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5 string Ricken-Musicman Bass.
- Thread starter Videojunkie
- Start date
5th coat.
I spent some quality time wet sanding with 400 and 600 tonight. It's not perfect but it is easily one of the best finishes I've ever done. The top is 95% flat and run free, the back is very flat, I am also very happy with how the neck and headstock are coming along. I'm paranoid about sanding too deep on the top and screwing up the burst!
I think I have buggered the tip of my sprayer, and I'm not getting the even mist that I was earlier. So the spray bottles are much more sensitive to cleaning and that kind of thing than a metal spray tip. If I was doing more than 1 or 2 basses, I'd probably go ahead and invest in a sprayer. A new spray bottle will be here tomorrow or Saturday.
I spent some quality time wet sanding with 400 and 600 tonight. It's not perfect but it is easily one of the best finishes I've ever done. The top is 95% flat and run free, the back is very flat, I am also very happy with how the neck and headstock are coming along. I'm paranoid about sanding too deep on the top and screwing up the burst!
I think I have buggered the tip of my sprayer, and I'm not getting the even mist that I was earlier. So the spray bottles are much more sensitive to cleaning and that kind of thing than a metal spray tip. If I was doing more than 1 or 2 basses, I'd probably go ahead and invest in a sprayer. A new spray bottle will be here tomorrow or Saturday.
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I realized that I've been posting variations on the same picture for a while. Here are some glamor shots of the finish at this point.
I'm debating on just one more coat and then trying my hand at buffing.
I'm debating on just one more coat and then trying my hand at buffing.
I might try to drop-fill low spots, level sand (pretty light, 800 and 1000 grit), coat again, level sand with the 1000, cut with compound and then buff with polish. That works on lacquer and poly (with proper curing times), but I've never worked with the product you're using.
So I'm doing a flood coat on some low spots. I'm hoping that it will help fill in some of the drips. After this, I'll do the same on the back of the body. (The mahogany was not nearly as flat as I thought it was...)
Once it all dries, I should be able to level sand it, and do an additional coat And see where I'm at then.
That's a good thing, because it makes for easy comparison of the different stadia. I've seen other builders do this too. Mapleglo's current build comes to mind.
I found some 1000 grit sponges at the local auto store, and used those for the first time tonight.
Holy smokes what a great tool.
They were backed with a very firm rubber foam, and wet sanding with those was a dream. Got most of the runs and drips cleaned up very quickly. The sponges hold water, so the surface never dried out, and cut the finish very smoothly.
Tomorrow evening, I will apply another coat ,but this is getting very, very close.
Holy smokes what a great tool.
They were backed with a very firm rubber foam, and wet sanding with those was a dream. Got most of the runs and drips cleaned up very quickly. The sponges hold water, so the surface never dried out, and cut the finish very smoothly.
Tomorrow evening, I will apply another coat ,but this is getting very, very close.
I’ll have to check those out.
And luckily (or not) I will be riding my bike up to our local auto parts store tomorrow to get a new battery for my truck.
And luckily (or not) I will be riding my bike up to our local auto parts store tomorrow to get a new battery for my truck.
I can't imagine carrying a car battery on a bike...
More spot filling today. Doing my best to be patient. I really want to be like "nope, good enough. Let's play! "
Looks good. Yes, the patience to do it right can be difficult. I’m frequently ready to just quit and start polishing. I just remind myself that if I stop at “pretty good” or “good enough” all I’ll see from then on will be everything that’s not right. Fortitude sir!
The O'Reilly's down the street from my house has these, so I guess I'll have to pick up a few. They have 320 grit too. Maybe I'll finally learn to wet sand...
Yup, this is why I ended up putting my J bass back together too soon.
...and this is why I'll soon be disassembling for a third time to fine sand it and spray on a few coats of semi-gloss lacquer. Patience is an acquired skill...
I think that's where I found it. Tempted to go back and find the 1500 and 2000 companion ones.
Ok. Top is about as flat as I think I can make it.
Working on spot filling the back with the same procedure.
The neck and back of the headstock are perfect. That booger from the screw is completely hidden by the tuner..
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Wet sanding to 1500 grit is not a bad idea, it should start to bring out a sheen which can help see how flat you really are. Slow and steady, a few extra days here can prevent a whole lot of should-a and could-a later on.
Agggg
Got the battery. Forgot the polishing materials. I tied it to my rear rack and all went
well.
Slightly awkward but it was only about 2 miles and Florida is flat as a pancake. my bike is fixed gear and the extra mass made itself known when I tried to slow down.
Got the battery. Forgot the polishing materials. I tied it to my rear rack and all went
Slightly awkward but it was only about 2 miles and Florida is flat as a pancake. my bike is fixed gear and the extra mass made itself known when I tried to slow down.
6th coat.
I think I will wind up doing one more (at least), but I spent quite a bit of time wet sanding to the point where I was scared to go any further.
I taped off the neck and fingerboard because I am really happy with how those look.
I think I will wind up doing one more (at least), but I spent quite a bit of time wet sanding to the point where I was scared to go any further.
I taped off the neck and fingerboard because I am really happy with how those look.
I think the challenge I have with this finish and the spray bottle application, is that I find spots that need just a touch more, and then I've added too much and get a sag. I need to learn to just let it be, and hit it on the next coat.
Nope it’s an old KHS frame from the 80s.
meant for 26” I put 700c wheels on it, with a double chainring and a double cog (Surly Dingle). I have one gear ratio for pavement and one for off road or soft dirt roads. A brake on the back. I don’t have one with enough reach for the front.
hmm. I might be a bike nerd, praise Sheldon!
Nice! How do you "switch" gears? Do you have 2 different chains that you swap out? And yes, Sheldon Brown was an immensely useful resource when I was still doing bike builds.
The two gear lengths are similar enough that I loosen the rear wheel, move the chain, snug it up, and roll. it can be done quickly.
I takes me more time to get the wrench out than it does to switch the chain path. You can see the tool on the underside of the tube opposite the water bottle. I have to spin two thumb screws to get to it, and then put it back. I usually switch at home before I set out, but it can be done at a stop sign or a red light pretty quickly. I like the silent ride and constant motion and it’s dead flat here so two gears does me on my passive road-worn ride.
I takes me more time to get the wrench out than it does to switch the chain path. You can see the tool on the underside of the tube opposite the water bottle. I have to spin two thumb screws to get to it, and then put it back. I usually switch at home before I set out, but it can be done at a stop sign or a red light pretty quickly. I like the silent ride and constant motion and it’s dead flat here so two gears does me on my passive road-worn ride.
