?SOLID FINSH ON ALDER?

[Stratman44]

:help: i HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PUT A SOLID FINISH ON MY ALDER BODY, help? i want the colar to be eather sonic blue or a seafoam grean. TELL ME HOW?????????????????? 2 piece vintage alder body.

 

[Stratman44]

????????????????????????????????????????????/

 

[Slylock Fox]

Maybe here?

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?board=3.0

 

[rapfohl09]

A lot of people (including myself) have followed this for great results...

http://www.reranch.com/101.htm

Also,

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Books_and_videos/Guitar_Finishing_Step-By-Step.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=23569

Is a completely invaluable source. I would just spend time reading that stuff, I don't think anyone will come along and write a book (because that is the amount of information it amounts to) in this thread*.

* I'm hoping this didn't come off as sounding confrontational, I was just saying.

 

[Stratman44]

:help: Would a sunburst finish be easier? :dontknow:

 

[rapfohl09]

No, not in my opinion anyway. And I would think most people would agree, but maybe someone thinks they are easier. To get nice looking bursts you need to have (ok, I'm covering my A$$ here and will say that I'm sure that it is possible and I have seen nice bursts without) some spray equipment.

If you really want a nice finish and don't want to mess it up, you can send it off to get done. Tonar is pretty much the man on this forum, and as I own a piece done from him myself, I can throw him a plug and say that his work is incredible.

I know you probably want to save some money and do it yourself, but by the time you spend the money on the supplies, and take the time to learn what you need to you will be banging your head against the wall. Finishing is not something that you generally do a single time, and if your going to take the time to learn how to do it, you should learn how to do it right. This means tons of practice, and not jumping right onto your project as your first try. It is worth spending the money to get just what you wanted the first time around.

I'm sure that is probably not the answer you wanted, but that is just my two cents. But if you choose to go forward with it, ask all the questions you want/need to. We're here to help after all.

 

[Stratman44]

i went down to lows and bought a sheet of poplar for practice, i think ill try a sunburst on it. do yall know how to do a sunburst finish without spray equipment?

 

[Stratman44]

No, not in my opinion anyway. And I would think most people would agree, but maybe someone thinks they are easier. To get nice looking bursts you need to have (ok, I'm covering my A$$ here and will say that I'm sure that it is possible and I have seen nice bursts without) some spray equipment.

If you really want a nice finish and don't want to mess it up, you can send it off to get done. Tonar is pretty much the man on this forum, and as I own a piece done from him myself, I can throw him a plug and say that his work is incredible.

I know you probably want to save some money and do it yourself, but by the time you spend the money on the supplies, and take the time to learn what you need to you will be banging your head against the wall. Finishing is not something that you generally do a single time, and if your going to take the time to learn how to do it, you should learn how to do it right. This means tons of practice, and not jumping right onto your project as your first try. It is worth spending the money to get just what you wanted the first time around.

I'm sure that is probably not the answer you wanted, but that is just my two cents. But if you choose to go forward with it, ask all the questions you want/need to. We're here to help after all.

Ya i know what you mean, but i kinda would like to learn how to do them myself. i really want to learn how becase i would love to retire from the marines, to be a luthear.

 

[bagman67]

Here you go:


http://www.finewoodworking.com/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=30182


This is a mandolin builder doing a greenburst finish on a sample plank of flame maple.

 

[Stratman44]

Thankyou! that was so much help!

 

[Strat Avenger]

do yall know how to do a sunburst finish without spray equipment?

Why would you want to??

 

[Stratman44]

save money and learn for myself
:rock-on:

 

[line6man]

:help: i HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PUT A SOLID FINISH ON MY ALDER BODY, help? i want the colar to be eather sonic blue or a seafoam grean. TELL ME HOW?????????????????? 2 piece vintage alder body.

Not to be rude, but if you have to ask in this manner, it doesn't sound like you're up to the task of doing a proper finish.
Finishing a guitar is not something someone can simply explain to you. You need to practice it a bit to get it right.

Sunburst finishes are generally more difficult than solid finishes, for obvious reasons.
You need two to three colors of paint, and you need to be able to control your spray well enough to get a nice uniform burst, that is also not too splattery and will provide a good transition from each color to the next.

You should start off with something basic, and then practice your bursts.