Assembly order

[bearskindrum]

Hi All,what is the consensus with the order of construction? I have finished the box, shaped the neck (to within a mm or 2 or where the fret board will go), the peg head and veneers are on and have been shaped with the tuners holes drilled. I am planning to taper the fret board tomorrow and then was going to stain the mahogany neck attach and glue the neck to the body, then glue on the fret board then mask off the bridge area before French polishing the whole guitar does this sound OK or should I do this in a different order??

Regards Mark

[B. Howard]

Do not stain the neck yet. Finishing and construction are two different parts of the project. You can't start finishing until construction has finished. If you satin the neck before attaching the FB as you intend you will not be able to clean up any glue squeeze out without marring the stained wood. You also need the FB attached to the neck so you can do the final shaping to blend it into the FB which would also mar the stain.

[tippie53]

I also do them separate. once the neck is pre set, and I have it where it needs to be I true up the fretboard ,then attach to neck. Do a final test fit and then final sand and start finish process.

[bearskindrum]

OK if I totally finish construction before staining the neck, how do I stop neck stain from going onto the sides, back and god forbid the top? Stain may sneak under any masking tape to reach these vulnerable areas??

Regards Mark

[Kevin Waldron]

Brian, is an expert at finish but I'd say that we have and do stain things before gluing and finishing.

We use aniline water and alcohol based dyes and have never had a problem. I would agree that if you use a stain with a sealer already in the stain that you will never be able to match and maintain the stain. Aniline dye is very forgiving and easy to blend but play with it prior to using it on your actual instrument. Glue will also adhere to wood that has the been treated with dye. Many and old time antique furniture was worked this way earlier than the 1400's to the present.

Blessings,

Kevin

[B. Howard]

Guess I should have clarified complete construction... I meant of the neck and body as separate units. If you have plastic bindings that you do not want stain on, simply scrape them clean after staining. If they are wood you must be more careful in application.

I too use only dye rather than conventional stain for some of the reasons Kevin stated.