I've used this website several times as a resource during my build process, thank you for the wisdom. Specifically Blues Creek Guitars, I've watched MANY of your videos, including ones on neck set and finishing. This is my first attempt at building a guitar and it has gone rather well as far as I can grade. I do have some background in basic furniture building and that proved invaluable. I'm nearing the end of the build phase, and had always hoped that I could find someone local to do the finish work for me. Unfortunately, it has proven an extremely difficult process, and have resigned to doing it myself. I've done some basic spray work in the past, so it's not something completely foreign to me. I've outlined below my intended approach based on my research and I would like some generic feedback and have asked some questions below. The two biggest questions I have
1) Is this sealer, filler, and lacquer compatible with each other?
2) when NOT to sand between coats, when to sand between coats and with what grit.
Details: I am building a Martin Dreadnought from a kit. It has rosewood sides/back, spruce top, mahogany neck, Ebony fingerboard, plastic bindings. I am not going thing for anything out of the ordinary, and would just like to achieve a nitro finish typical for this type of guitar.
Plan:
Prep work:
- Sand everything to 220.
- ? Do Bindings also get 220?
- What do you clean the surfaces with? Denatured alcohol or tack cloth?
- 2 coats of Mohawk Vinyl Sealer
- ? Sand between coats?
- ? Time between coats?
- ? What Grit?
- First 2 coats of AquaCoat
at least 1 coat with grain, 1 coat against, work in small zones. Scuff sand between coats always with block. - 2 coats of sealer, level sand.
- ? what grit?
- ? Time between coats?
- ? what am I using to clean between coats? Air? Denatured?
- Plan on finishing in my garage using Mowhak Lacquer
- Warm the cans in warm water for 15 minutes, warm the shop.
- Spray 4 coats a day, 1 hour a part, for 3 days.
- Final sand/buff...I'll be honest I haven't quite researched this yet.
Josh