2nd Build - a KMG 0M EIR/Engelmann

[naccoachbob]

Tony, hated to make you wait, but work, life, golf all got in the way.
I took today to scrape down the binding/purfling. In some places they were higher than the top, so I used an orbital sander to get them down. In others, they were a bit low, but used a razor to scrape off the glue to where the purflings showed thru. All in all, a bit tedious as the bloodwood kept trying to get into the top. I had to use a razor almost everywhere to get it down. Still some fine tuning to do, but overall I'm happy with them.

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By the way, the discoloration in the top is from sanding sealer used to keep the bloodwood and rosewood from getting deep into it. It'll go away when I final sand.

Will put up pictures of the back when I get to that point.
Thanks for looking,
Bob

[naccoachbob]

Just finished sanding the back and sides. Thought I'd done a much better job of removing squeeze out, but didn't. The binding was proud of the sides in a couple of spots, but nothing major. I've sanded to 120 right now, and will go to at least 220, and feel 320 is a must.
For more experienced guys, how far down in grits do you sand prior to sealing and finishing?
There were some thin pockets where the binding was not flush with the sides. My inexperience in binding came out. I figure to glue in some rosewood dust to cover that. Shouldn't be very apparent.
Here's the back and a side.

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Bob

[johnnparchem]

Bob, it looks great. I had to fill with rosewood dust and CA in a few places where the binding was not flush. It is hard to even find the spots now.

I have been sanding only up to 220 before applying filler or sealer. I read somewhere that you do not want to polish the wood as it will not take the finish as well. I may be way off base on that but I sanded my spruce top with 220 grit cross grain and I can not see any sanding scratches in the wood under the shellac.

I sand the rosewood with the grain of course.

[naccoachbob]

John, somewhere in the back of my mind, 220 sounded right.
I was at it about 5-6 hours today to get things cleaned up, and stopped there. No energy to go sanding again.
I'll leave it until tomorrow.
I'll probaby try the dust and CA before sanding any more also.
Thanks,
Bob

[naccoachbob]

The sides and back sanded to 220, the few small gaps in the binding were filled and covered up. The top was scraped down to remove any dust from the sides/binding, and sanded lightly. Getting ready to start the finishing.
Gawd, what a long trip this was. We had a scare yesterday when my daughter had to go to the hospital fearing an appendicitis. It was something else, diagnosed today, and so no surgery, but she had a lot of pain. She should be fine, so whew!
Can't wait to finish this and get it in her hands.

The top

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The back

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And now with the neck in place

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Bob

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Saaaaaaaaaaawwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
Love that headstock! Give us pics as you do the finish Bob.

Kevin

[naccoachbob]

I'm pore filling right now, Kevin. I think.
It's a toss up whether I'm doing any good.
Taking a different approach now, and believe I'm getting ahead of the curve on it.
With luck, will start the finish this weekend.
Thanks,
Bob

[naccoachbob]

I was hesitant to bring this up, but an email between me and a forum friend convinced me that I should.
As you know, if you've read thru this thread, I had a bad misfortune when my router slipped and caused me to have to re-do the top and the sides. Well, that was bad enough.
But Sunday night, I was about to spray another clear coat on this guitar when another tragedy came up. I keep my spray can of clear coat, my mask and my goggles on a counter in the kitchen. So I placed the guitar there while I was shaking the can and preparing to get to work.
This location is next to the feeding dish of a very old cat. She edged up and began eating as I started to shake the can, and it startled her. She jumped, and passed close enough that she knocked my guitar down to the floor.
Here is a pic of what resulted:

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This time I did not throw anything but the mask, which narrowly missed the cat (she's spry in her old age).
Yesterday I took it to Steve Kinnaird, and he gave me good tips on fixing it. First, I took all the lines that went lenghtwise along the side. Made sure the two edges were flush, and super glued them in place. However, there were 2 holes of decent size. One was so large that I took a spare piece of rosewood and pressed it against the hole from underneath. Superglued it in place, then pore filled with some Timbermate which I had bought. The other hole didn't need that, so I pored in Timbermate to fill it.
Here's the interim pic:

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Since I had sanded back to bare wood, I went ahead and put in more pore filler, and am letting it set up. Will go back and scrape it off. Per Steve's instructions, I am covering the Timbermate as well.
Here's where I am now:

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I'm toying with the idea of cutting some small rosewood pieces and placing them where the big holes are. So I might dig out the filler and do that so that the repair will look a bit more like real wood. Not sure how it will take the bend on the guitar's surface, so will wait and email Steve about it. -- Share your thoughts if you will ----

Thursday, I will take it to Steve's shop, where he says he can "feather" in some grain lines with some pens and things he has. So it should be as good as new when done. I'll comment on his procedure when I get back.
This has absolutely (considering it's only my 2nd build) been the worst ever experience in getting a guitar finished. I guess the lesson to be learned is to keep away from animals and small children as well as faulty routers.
Please learn from my experience and take every precaution possible to prevent damage to your builds.
From your number one klutz, thanks for looking,
Bob

[Ken Hundley]

AHhhhhhh Bob, I feel for you. You may recall my trajedies with Squirrels, set me back damn near a year. I think the best thing you could try to do is to feather in some peices of rosewood. It won't be easy, but I think you may like the results better. They can be pre-bent on a pipe to match the curve. I am surprised the cracks went as far as they did. Do you have braces along the side? Whatever you do, I am sure it will still play and sound incredible. Sorry to hear about the trajedy. Keep your chin up and keep going with it.

[naccoachbob]

Thanks, Ken. Yeh I do remember the squirrels. I'm contemplating about the cat what you probably thought about doing to the squirrels, but that wouldn't have helped either of us.
I am thinking about putting some wooden pieces in the bigger areas. That way, Steve's efforts won't take as much.
I have nothing to bend with, but might be able to come up with something.
Thanks,
Bob