Telerauder Build

[rgand]

My roommate's currently spending almost as much on gas for the snowblower as he is for the car.

I can believe that. You're in the right place for snow.

Looking great.
Keep those pictures coming  :icon_thumright:

Thanks, will do. After a few more coats, probably.

 

[BigSteve22]

Color looks good, what shade did you decide on?

You got sun where you live? Must be nice. At least, I remember sun being nice. Someday, I hope to see the sun again.

I know exactly what you mean. Spent a few days at my sister's place in central Florida last week. 70 degrees, warm breeze, a little sunshine. Checked the weather at home, 9 degrees and snowing. Should have stayed a while longer......  :headbang:

 

[bagman67]

Lookin' mighty fine there, Richard.  Happy to see progress on that axe.

 

[TBurst Std]

Color looks good, what shade did you decide on?

You got sun where you live? Must be nice. At least, I remember sun being nice. Someday, I hope to see the sun again.

I know exactly what you mean. Spent a few days at my sister's place in central Florida last week. 70 degrees, warm breeze, a little sunshine. Checked the weather at home, 9 degrees and snowing. Should have stayed a while longer......  :headbang:

Whereabouts in Cen FL? I’m in Winter Park, a suburb just north of Orlando

 

[rgand]

Color looks good, what shade did you decide on?

I'm using Wudtone Dairy Blonde. It comes with two base colors, yellow and a light one (can't say white because it is more transparent than anything). I went two parts light to one part yellow. Then I added 30 or so drops of white India ink since it was too much like transparent yellow. That brought the color more to my liking. It will still be transparent but without that bright yellow cast.

Lookin' mighty fine there, Richard.  Happy to see progress on that axe.

Thanks, Ian. It's good to finally get past the sanding and prep work. Most of the final sanding was to take out little swirls left by the palm sander. I even had 320 grit pads for it but it still left stuff that needed block sanding to get rid of.

 

[Cagey]

Is your sander a D/A or an orbital? I think they're equally effective in the right hands, but some people have better luck with one vs. the other. Myself, I seem to get better results with the D/A.

 

[rgand]

Is your sander a D/A or an orbital? I think they're equally effective in the right hands, but some people have better luck with one vs. the other. Myself, I seem to get better results with the D/A.

I think it's orbital since it makes little swirls. The head is flat iron shaped. I got it at a pawn shop in Carson City one day for $20. I may have to re-visit that 'good deal'. :icon_biggrin:

I do have an air powered D/A sander that's good for working with machinery but really don't trust it to not blow contaminants onto the wood.

 

[Cagey]

Orbitals spin while moving randomly around an eccentric. So, the abrasives are round, and for me often dig ridges into things with coarser abrasives. I'm sure I'm handling the thing wrong, but there we are. If yours is flat-iron shaped, it's more of a D/A, which are typically square or rectangular. The flatiron shape is to allow corner access that's tough to impossible to get with other designs. It'll create swirls, but they're usually pretty small.

 

[rgand]

Yeah, the swirls were tiny but it took quite a while to sand them out with 320 going with the grain only. There were a couple lines of them. Maybe those swirls were caused by the edge of the pad. Maybe it would be a good idea to run the edges along some concrete or steel first to smooth them off.

 

[Cagey]

The edges of D/A sanders can do some real damage. I've lost control of my D/A a couple times, falling off the edge of something, and the vibrations of the platform then pound the side of whatever you're sanding, putting a series of small dents in it. Those are usually a real pain in the shorts to get out, forcing you to drop back a couple grits and start over in an area.

Speaking of edges (of workpieces), you also have to be careful there because as the contact area gets smaller, the pressure increases and you cut faster than you do when the whole pad is in contact. Finally, the edges of the abrasive are moving a lot faster and a greater distance per cycle around the perimeter of the abrasive than in the center area, so you have to be sure to move the whole unit around enough to even that action out.

 

[rgand]

Yeah, there's a learning curve for sure. Now I have to make another body so I can get better at this (any excuse is a good one). :icon_biggrin:

 

[Cagey]

I suppose, if you need an excuse...  :laughing7:

 

[bagman67]

I have a one-piece mahogany blank if you think you could use one.

 

[rgand]

I have a one-piece mahogany blank if you think you could use one.

Thanks, that's a good offer, Ian. I'll give it some thought. I want to get this guitar done first, though. I do have to make another one so I can get some more use out of that router table. Maybe if you still have it when the time comes...

I suppose, if you need an excuse...  :laughing7:

I'm sure I can dream up all kinds of excuses.  :icon_biggrin:

 

[bagman67]

It ain't goin' nowhere any time soon, Richard.  Tell you what, I'll give you first right of refusal in case it begins to look like anyone else wants it.  The blank is pictured below in obverse and reverse, dimensions are about 17" by 21", planed to 1.75"

 

[Cagey]

That's a nice-looking hunk of lumber.

 

[rgand]

Wow, nice grain pattern in that one. Placed right, it would really make a body interesting. Thanks.

 

[rgand]

So, here it is with all the coats of finish on. The next step is to polish it some and see what it looks like. I may put some Wipe-on Poly on it if it needs more gloss.

 

[Cagey]

Looks good! Nice how the grain flows with the body rake.

Finish (wet) sanding through to 2000, then rubbing compound through fine to buff, then swirl remover/polish should put a very nice gloss on it. Careful around the edges - it's ultra-easy to cut too deep due to reduced contact area increasing abrasive pressure.

 

[rgand]

Thanks, Kevin. I appreciate your steps on polishing. I don't think there's a thick enough coat on it to do much sanding at this point. I wanted the grain relief to show so I didn't do a lot of coats. It's actually acceptable as it is but I'd like more shine. If I end up with the Wipe-on Poly, that will definitely be the way I'll go.