MS D-18

[Ben-Had]

OK, after finishing up the last one for 2012, a couple repair jobs and a little Christmas break, it's back to work.

I finished sanding the top and have one coat of sanding sealer on it before I turn to the back and sides.

Here is my sanding schedule: 100, 150, mist and dry, 150, mist and dry, 220, mist and dry, 220, 320. I have begun using an RO sander as it is easier on my old hands, elbows, arms and shoulders.

I know for some of you this method is a little controversial because I "wet" the top. But it is a fine misting just to lift the fibers and it is immediately dried off with a hot air gun (not too hot and keep the gun moving). I have found this give me a very good surface and because I use water-based lacquer, the lacquer doesn't lift any fibers.

[Ben-Had]

Back to work - I did some inlay work on the headstock. It is Gold MOP (the future owner's first name initial) and the headstock is Ebony (although in some pics it's hard to tell).

[Ben-Had]

Mid stages of inlay work.

[Ben-Had]

On the closeup you can see a few voids around the edges. I took care of that by using a black sharpie, activator, and thin CA to fill those tiny voids (thanks for the tip John). It came out nice.

[Ben-Had]

Sanded the box this morning.

[Ben-Had]

I wipe it all down with Naptha to get the sanding dust off. This afternoon I'll shoot a few coats of sanding sealer on the back and sides and it'll be ready to cut the binding channels.

[johnnparchem]

Tim, Your guitar is looking great. I am going to try the chalk method next time I inlay. I have been using a pencil. With just the right light it glows ... but an inopportune shadow and the line is lost. I have found being able to see is the best way to improve one's ability to route out the inlay rebate.

[Ben-Had]

Tim, Your guitar is looking great. I am going to try the chalk method next time I inlay. I have been using a pencil. With just the right light it glows ... but an inopportune shadow and the line is lost. I have found being able to see is the best way to improve one's ability to route out the inlay rebate.

If the cavity is a little off I pencil around it with my .3mm pencil and rout up to the line (usually just a hair). So I still use the pencil method too.

[Ben-Had]

I use a Homestead Finishing QS125WB spray gun. My finishing has improved noticeably since I started using this gun. I got the pouring top from Rockler, this thing is great - no drips, easy to mix.

[Ben-Had]

This is my tower binding router setup. Counterbalanced with a screen door spring on the back of the unit. Harbour Freight trim router. I like the HF router because it has a gear to adjust the height but you have to be careful with these units because the quality varies, I checked the play on about 4 of these before getting this one.