Spray finishing tutorials

The Achilles' Heel of Luthiery
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B. Howard
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Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:42 pm
Location: Hummelstown, PA
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Spray finishing tutorials

Post by B. Howard »

I have begun making a series of spray finishing tutorials. The first one is done and is about masking off surfaces you do not want to spray like the fret board. Here is the link;


I will post links to the others as I complete them.
You never know what you are capable of until you actually try....

Brian Howard
www.brianhowardguitars.com
Taylor authorized service
Custom finishing services

Brian howard's guitar building & repair blog
http://www.brianhowardguitars.com
watergunn
Posts: 277
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:20 am
Location: Cumming, GA

Re: Spray finishing tutorials

Post by watergunn »

Cannot wait to watch them.

I did have a question that popped up. When you level sand, do you do any of it dry and not wet?

Thanks

Rick Gunn
B. Howard
Posts: 709
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:42 pm
Location: Hummelstown, PA
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Re: Spray finishing tutorials

Post by B. Howard »

I don't do much wet sanding on guitars. Small finish repairs and level sanding in prep for Metallics and pearls is about it, sometimes a little bit on a burst. Other than that it is all dry. I sand out at 320 dry to level my sealer for most jobs. Usually only use scotchbrite to de-nib between finish coats. If I need some inter coat leveling I will use either 320 or 400 dry.

For final buffing I am using a big buffing arbor and only need to sand out at 400 before the first compound so again no water needed. That's the way the big manufacturers do it, after all you don't see any wet sanding at Martin. Those who glaze and polish by hand or with more common auto refinish products have no choice but to wet sand as they must sand much finer, usually at least 1000, before starting with the compound.
You never know what you are capable of until you actually try....

Brian Howard
www.brianhowardguitars.com
Taylor authorized service
Custom finishing services

Brian howard's guitar building & repair blog
http://www.brianhowardguitars.com
watergunn
Posts: 277
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:20 am
Location: Cumming, GA

Re: Spray finishing tutorials

Post by watergunn »

Thanks Brian,
I am way overdoing it as far as the wet sanding is concerned.
johnnparchem
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Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 10:50 pm
Location: Seattle
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Re: Spray finishing tutorials

Post by johnnparchem »

Thanks Brian,

Masking parts of the guitar has been one of the banes of my guitar work. You make it appear easy. I especially liked how you masked off the rosette tape and coming back to cut the top mask by cutting in the center of the tape mask. Staying within a 1/4" is a lot easier than staying right on a line. I look forward to seeing the tutorial move forward.
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