The Flamecaster - Second Warmoth Project DONE

[partialdoctor]

Well, after my first went so well and was so much fun (The Booger, see below), I wasted little time ordering my second body. I decided to try a burst finish with this one and seeing as I live in a townhome with nowhere to spray, decided to use dyes for the burst and Tru-Oil for the finish. It has been going very well so far. The goal is a sweet classic bluesy SRV style strat tone with an exotic look.

As you can see from the 1st shot, the body is an alder core with a flame maple top. I tried to tape off the top to minimize my sanding after dying the top, but it penetrated and was essentially useless.
I used a mixture of Transtint Reddish Brown, Honey Amber, and Bright Red in water to do my colors. I started with a base coat of reddish brown to pop the grain, as seen in the 2nd shot. This was sanded back to leave dye in the grain and then I added a coat of the honey amber. I then removed the tape and dyed the back a mixture of the reddish brown and red. Then, I used both this mixture and the honey amber to create the burst. This was much easier than I anticipated. The key was keeping both colors very wet and allowing them to blend. It was very easy to fine tune. Unfortunately this raised the grain and I ended up repeating it with sanding multiple times to get the grain flat. After it was done, I had the color you see in the last photo.

 

[bagman67]

Very nicely done.  Creating a burst with a pad is a piece of work I would not have the guts to undertake.  Bravo.

 

[partialdoctor]

So then I started with the Tru-Oil. It has been an adventure in lint prevention. I started with a cut up old T-shirt but got some lint that came our with a little Naptha and some sanding with 4000 and 600 micromesh. I have been applying very thing layers with a coffee filter and this seems to work well. Every 3-4 coats I have sanded with 4000, 6000, and then 12000 micromesh (wet sanded with water).
It's coming along well.

The neck will be the pau ferro/pau ferro with abalone inlays you see below with 6100 SS frets and schaller locking tuners. I will be using Lollar Blackface pickups and a parchment colored perloid pickguard. I think its going to look amazing! Will post pics with more progress...

 

[partialdoctor]

You can also see how much the tru-oil darkened the finish. I think it matches the neck really well. The pictures don't do it justice. In the sunlight it literally glows.  arty07: :headbang1: :guitarplayer2:

I was very worried about how the alder would take the dye after reading reports of it being splotchy, but it could not look better. With the reddish dye and the true oil, it has an amazingly rich reddish mahogany look to it that really accentuates the grain. I'll post some pics of that too.

 

[Cagey]

Good job! That really came out well.

Did you put anything on that neck? Seems a bit dark to me.

 

[partialdoctor]

I haven't put anything on it because I don't have it yet. Thats the stock Warmoth photo. And thanks!

 

[Nando Vallart]

This is going to look as one of the finishes I most like! Awesome!

 

[B3Guy]

are you buying the showcase pau/pau neck? you should, because that will force Warmoth to make more . . . for me! (hopefully with the neck profile I desire)

 

[rapfohl09]

Wow, wow. That looks amazing!

 

[partialdoctor]

are you buying the showcase pau/pau neck? you should, because that will force Warmoth to make more . . . for me! (hopefully with the neck profile I desire)

Yes I already bought it.

 

[DangerousR6]

Wow, that's pretty sweet, I'd leave it just like that. Looks awesome with the matte finish... :hello2:

 

[partialdoctor]

Wow, that's pretty sweet, I'd leave it just like that. Looks awesome with the matte finish... :hello2:

Thanks Dangerous. I'm going to hit you up for a couple of plates once I figure out what exactly I want on them.

 

[B3Guy]

are you buying the showcase pau/pau neck? you should, because that will force Warmoth to make more . . . for me! (hopefully with the neck profile I desire)

Yes I already bought it.

once again, I beseech the great W to quarter-saw some pau! 'board it with the same and put Stevie's contour on the back!

 

[tomroffey666]

Man that finish looks badass!!! I love the matte look as well! Can't wait to see it finished.

 

[dmraco]

very nice work with the burst.  I will be trying this very soon too...I am too cheap and in-experienced to use a spray gun :laughing8:

BTW...LOVE THE COLOR

 

[Cagey]

very nice work with the burst.  I will be trying this very soon too...I am too cheap and in-experienced to use a spray gun :laughing8:

Actually, depending how much painting you do, it's actually less expensive and easier to use a spray gun. Not to mention the dramatically superior results.

It's kinda like building a garage with nothing but a hand saw to do all your cutting. Can you imagine?

Yeah, it can be done, but for what a good circular saw or table saw costs, it can be done a lot easier, faster, and better.

 

[partialdoctor]

very nice work with the burst.  I will be trying this very soon too...I am too cheap and in-experienced to use a spray gun :laughing8:

Actually, depending how much painting you do, it's actually less expensive and easier to use a spray gun. Not to mention the dramatically superior results.

It's kinda like building a garage with nothing but a hand saw to do all your cutting. Can you imagine?

Yeah, it can be done, but for what a good circular saw or table saw costs, it can be done a lot easier, faster, and better.

While I totally see your point, I actually love the process of the hand applied oil finish. I like toiling with it and dicking with it every day. Its fun and it makes me feel more connected to the instrument. That said, I've never sprayed one. Spraying wasn't an option for as I mentioned above.

Coming along well. Will have some new pics soon. I sanded off a few coats when I realized I had some wiping marks. Lesson learned about putting it on too thick and its very gloss like again.  Thanks for all of the kind words!

 

[Corey P.]

Looks incredible!  Great work.

 

[Cagey]

While I totally see your point, I actually love the process of the hand applied oil finish. I like toiling with it and dicking with it every day. Its fun and it makes me feel more connected to the instrument. That said, I've never sprayed one. Spraying wasn't an option for as I mentioned above. 

Usually by the time all the sanding/filling/sealing/etc. is done, I've had more than my fill of fondling/toiling with the little rascal. I'm ready to shoot/buff/polish and get on with the program. But, I understand it's not always possible to do spray finishes, and oil finishes can certainly look fantastic.

 

[partialdoctor]

Its coming along well. I think I'm done with the Tru-Oil at this point, as its glowing pretty nicely. WIll hang to cure for a week then polish and hit it with some Zaino.