Strat Project - Start to Finish

[pilot2222]

A few weeks ago I ordered a Warmoth strat.  Mahogany neck and body with flame maple top.  I am going to walk the process of finishing this guitar.  

Supplies
StewMac Grain Filler (waterbased), StewMac Cherry Red Liquid Stain, All Sandpaper - ACE Hardware  220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500 and 2000, StewMac Sanding Sealer (Laquer), Deft Sanding Sealer (Laquer)  - ACE or Lowe's, and Duplicolor (Acryllic Laquer) - Autozone or Advanced Auto Parts

Step 1. Sand down the body (lightly) with 200 grit sandpaper.
Step 2.  Wipe clean.  Dampen paper towel and rub on guitar.  Let guitar dry (for about five minutes).  This will cause the fibers to rise.
Step 3.  sand again with 220 grit sandpaper.  

This is what my looked like at this point. 

Close look at the grain pores. 

 

[pilot2222]

Step 4.  Tape off top of guitar with painter's tape.  use tack cloth to clean off any dust from the back of the guitar.
Step 5.  Use a cloth to rub in the grain filler (small areas at a time).  After rubbing in the grain filler on the back and sides, let it dry for two hours.
Step 6.  Wipe off dust with tack cloth (ACE hardware or auto parts store) and rub in one more coat of grain filler, let dry for two hours.
Step 7.  Sand with 320 grit sandpaper for a smooth surface.  Don't press to hard on the sides.  Go light and slow.

Here is a picture at this point.

 

[pilot2222]

Step 8.  Tape off the sides of the guitar so that the stain doesn't drip down.  Sand top of guitar with 220 grit sandpaper.  Wipe clean with tack cloth.
Step 9.  dampen cloth and rub cloth on surface.  Let it dry for a few minutes.   This will raise the grain.
Step 10.  sand again with 220 grit sandpaper.  wipe clean.
Step 11.  Mix liquid stain in mason jar (please see the bottle for the fluid ratios and test on a scrap piece of wood before applying to flame maple.)
Step 12.  I used a staining pad/sponge from Lowe's, it worked great.  lightly rub stain on guitar top.  
Step 13.  After letting it dry for a few minutes apply a second coat (if you want a darker look).
**I let the guitar sit overnight.

Here is the before picture.  

Here is the after picture.  (the flash takes away from the depth but you get the idea)  

 

[pilot2222]

  Front after clear coats

  Back after clear coats

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

That looks fantastic

 

[Taylor_B92]

Yeah, bro. Pretty sweet so far. I'm learning alot for when my Warmoth (money) comes in... if anytime soon.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Cool!!!!

 

[MUYFUE]

Very nice work!
You should be proud!
the figure on the front is interesting, kind of got two diff grains goin on there  :icon_thumright:

 

[Mark W]

How do you keep the stain or dye from penetrating beyond the tape edge so it's a clean sharp edge?

By the way, that looks great!!

 

[pilot2222]

How do you keep the stain or dye from penetrating beyond the tape edge so it's a clean sharp edge?

By the way, that looks great!!

Thank you!  I used painter's tape to tape off the edges.  I very carefully placed the tape on the edge of the flame maple & visa versa on the edge of the mahogany when I did the top.  This process took me about 20 to 30 minutes.  First, I filled the grain on the neck and back with the top completely taped off then after I taped the sides of the body and stained the top.  After I stained the top I had a couple of spots where the dye dripped down.  For those spots I lightly sanded with 320 grit sandpaper until it was barely noticable or completely gone.  There may be faster and cleaner ways of doing this but this worked for me.

*disclaimer*  Because of a lacquer blushing issue, I had to sand back my first couple of coats of sanding sealer in order to start from the scratch.  During that process I left painter's tape on the top so I wouldn't remove any sanding sealer from the top.  By sanding down to the grain filler on the back & sides and reapplying the sanding sealer, I was able to develop the fairly clean line that you see in the picture. 

I hope this helps.

 

[pilot2222]

Here is the finished product:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI6wV5NWVKU[/youtube]

 

[MedianMusic1]

Congrats! Looks and sounds good. Must feel great to finally play it.