[calvin lee]

this is turning out to be such an awesome project.

and in my opinion, she is begging to be painted firebird red.

[G-Whiz]

Originally Posted by calvin lee

this is turning out to be such an awesome project.

and in my opinion, she is begging to be painted firebird red.

I really like the Firebird Red and it's been in my mind a while. We'll see ....

Now, I gotta say I hate sanding the finish off a guitar. I've gotten most of it of the front now. The sides and back of the neck is gonna suck. I decided to go ahead and sand the back of the neck and headstock (custom serial number decal). I will stain the back if the neck with the same as the back of the guitar, but only finish it in Tung Oil and have the painter spray poly on all but the back ignite neck. What do you guys think?

[johsonrod]

Ya stripping poly is the worst man I did my buddies strat the other day in my shop, shoulda done it outside!

I think that will all work out good, but use nitro man not poly!

[G-Whiz]

What do you all think of this?

http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Brushed-.../dp/B000KKMO7W

[beatnik]

Originally Posted by G-Whiz

What do you all think of this?

http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Brushed-.../dp/B000KKMO7W

dont think that will work, firstly its not big enough and secondly as its paper the slightest ding or scrape and its gonna peel off meaning u would have to re-do it

[G-Whiz]

Originally Posted by beatnik

dont think that will work, firstly its not big enough and secondly as its paper the slightest ding or scrape and its gonna peel off meaning u would have to re-do it

It's eighteen inches by 6 foot. My lower bout is only 16 inches. Do you think it would peel even if I laquered over it (assuming it would take laquer)?

[Lizardkinged]

Beatnik, I'm pretty sure The Whiz has enough intuitive sense to poly/nitro over the paper to protect it.

You can probably find a piece big enough but will it be able to be put on w/o a run/bubbles. I think its foiled, kinda similar process as a gum wrapper is.

If you ever got bored in class and peeled all the silver crap of your gum wrapper you might be able to peel it all back and do it more like the drum flake style. Or put it on very thick w/ some thinned type of acryl adhesive sparingly (just enough to make it all stick together to sand it thin/flat) and try and sand it flat when finished, but I would try it on something else first.

[G-Whiz]

Yea. Gum wrappers would be cool, but between us, I font think I would have the patience for it. That contact paper is only ten bucks, I may get some and try it on something. I'm sure I could smooth the bubbles out with a credit card. When I was the store manager at the local Pizza Gut, we used to hang huge vinyl clings on the windows and they came with a little scraper to get bubbles out. We had to put then up perfectly or the District Manager would give us hell.

[Lizardkinged]

I was saying the contact paper may be made similar to the way gum-wrapper is. And vinyl stretches around curves, paper doesnt. or is this flat topped?

[6stings]

Nice wood! You are going to smooth those routings, aren't you?

[G-Whiz]

Originally Posted by Lizardkinged

I was saying the contact paper may be made similar to the way gum-wrapper is. And vinyl stretches around curves, paper doesnt. or is this flat topped?

I'm sorry, I'm a moron that takes things too literally. I sometimes need extra clarification.

The Double Jet has an arched top just like a regular Duo Jet. Most contact "paper" I've seen was sort of a thin vinyl or plastic material. This may be different as a metallic one, though.

[beatnik]

Originally Posted by G-Whiz

It's eighteen inches by 6 foot. My lower bout is only 16 inches. Do you think it would peel even if I laquered over it (assuming it would take laquer)?

my mistake thought it was 18 inches by 6 inches

Originally Posted by Lizardkinged

Beatnik, I'm pretty sure The Whiz has enough intuitive sense to poly/nitro over the paper to protect it.

You can probably find a piece big enough but will it be able to be put on w/o a run/bubbles. I think its foiled, kinda similar process as a gum wrapper is.

If you ever got bored in class and peeled all the silver crap of your gum wrapper you might be able to peel it all back and do it more like the drum flake style. Or put it on very thick w/ some thinned type of acryl adhesive sparingly (just enough to make it all stick together to sand it thin/flat) and try and sand it flat when finished, but I would try it on something else first.

i wasnt suggesting that whiz wouldnt have the sense to clearcoat my point was that if the guitar was dinged and it went through to the paper then its not fixable if you paint it it can be fixed without re-doing the whole top

[G-Whiz]

Originally Posted by 6stings

Nice wood! You are going to smooth those routings, aren't you?

Why yes, I am. I don't want a crappy looking back. Even though nobody would see it, I would know it was there and it would kill me every time I see it.

[G-Whiz]

Originally Posted by beatnik

my mistake thought it was 18 inches by 6 inches

i wasnt suggesting that whiz wouldnt have the sense to clearcoat my point was that if the guitar was dinged and it went through to the paper then its not fixable if you paint it it can be fixed without re-doing the whole top

Good point, beatnik. If I had a ding that went through the clear and paper to the wood, I would be hard to fix.

[RoyJBowman]

I commented earlier on the color being red and I was talking about red like Jacks Airline.

[6stings]

Originally Posted by G-Whiz

Why yes, I am. I don't want a crappy looking back. Even though nobody would see it, I would know it was there and it would kill me every time I see it.

I feel better now. Take your time with the details.
BTW, you could sand the body some more, to eliminate more of the sealer maybe...

[G-Whiz]

Originally Posted by 6stings

I feel better now. Take your time with the details.
BTW, you could sand the body some more, to eliminate more of the sealer maybe...

On the back? I thought all the sealer was gone. Good eye.

[BrickwallJackson]

Really admire what you are doing here, bro. Keep up the good work. Slow and steady. Regarding the copper contact paper, you should be fine with a clear coat. Remember, Fender used freaking wallpaper on their paisley telecasters in the 60's.

[G-Whiz]

Originally Posted by BrickwallJackson

Really admire what you are doing here, bro. Keep up the good work. Slow and steady. Regarding the copper contact paper, you should be fine with a clear coat. Remember, Fender used freaking wallpaper on their paisley telecasters in the 60's.

Thanks, Brickwall. The headstock inlay should be here by Monday or Tuesday and the contact paper should be here sometime today (next day shipping). I found an auto body guy that will shoot it with clear for free if I pay for the material. I picked up some teak oil for the back of the neck. I'm only going to have him shoot the headstock, front and back, the body, front and back, and leave the neck alone. I like the feeling of an 'unfinished' neck. It's so much smoother. I will stain it to make it match the back, then use the teak oil. I think I'll have him do a fade into it with the clear from either side. I've got the whole front sanded down to the sealer. I'm going to take the sealer off and just dona little rattle can polycrylic to seal it. Either that, or pick up some sanding sealer. The contact paper is self adhesive, so I don't think I need to glue it in any way.

Now on to the problem at hand. While sanding, a piece of the binding broke off and flew to god knows where. It's about a half inch of it. If I search the shop and find it, I'll just super glue it back on, but if I can't find it, I'll have to end up rebinding the whole thing. This shouldn't be too hard, since I don't have to worry about ruining any finish. just glue and go. I don't think I like the wbw anyway, so if I end up having to redo it, I will use a cream colored. Anyone know what size binding these Pro Jets have, in case I need to order some?

[BrickwallJackson]

Hey Dude,

Hmmm, I don't know on the binding, but you can always get some from StewMac and form it to fit. I know the pros will sand binding flush, though I'm not sure of the technique.