"Explosive Ibanez" Takes Flight

[yeeharacing]

Could add some character anyways. Plus I dont think you'll ever have something with security signs so tidy.

Have to agree as the finish wears on everything it would look cooler and cooler

 

[Thumper828]

maybe put a thumb rest on? It is a custom. I think whatever you decide will be good. Awsome Job!

 

[MrTAteMyBalls]

looking great! can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[bassolp]

yeah great job dude

 

[Buchada Azeda]

Bump for more progress pics.

 

[mikeddd]

I've been in the OP's shoes before; you get on a roll, lots of great ideas, great progress, so you take pics and post'em. Then everyone and their brother wants updates and lots of pics! Well, OP, you got us all hooked on your thread...let's go w/the progress! None of this "But I have a real job and gotta work!" BS.

I'm really looking forward to seeing some more pics and of course, the final product.

 

[fenderfunker]

I've done a couple of these, and by far, the hardest part is being patient between coats. VERY important to the final outcome. Last time, I had it perfect, and the flyscreen door slammed shut on the body, when I took it in the house to show my wife...AAGGHH.

 

[Slaine01]

subsribed

 

[bassgod76]

I'm down to the last two color coats, so I'm giving long periods of time in between sprays. I want the paint to be fairly hard before I apply more paint. I will post pics some time next week.

 

[__HM__]

Updates?

 

[bassgod76]

I sprayed the 2nd to last coat on Wednesday. Las coat goes on Saturday

 

[zenrad]

That's looking good, but I don't think you need to wait so long in between coats. When you spray the next coat on it melts into the one below it, that's how lacquers work for example. All of the coats melt into one and molecularly bond. That's why you can sand and buff a clear finish without "witness lines" like you'll get with varnish, where each coat sits on top of the last one. As soon as you spray your next coat you've melted the coats below.

FWIW, I spray a sunburst in two days with nitro, the amber, black and red followed by 3 coats of clear all one hour apart. The next day I'll do another 4-5 coats of clear 60 minutes apart. I'll let it cure for a couple of weeks before I buff it.

Rattle can paints can be tricky, I've had enamels on stomp boxes wrinkle on me after hitting it with clear even though the color had dried for a week before I was able to get to it. Practice on scrap.

 

[bassgod76]

That's looking good, but I don't think you need to wait so long in between coats. When you spray the next coat on it melts into the one below it, that's how lacquers work for example. All of the coats melt into one and molecularly bond. That's why you can sand and buff a clear finish without "witness lines" like you'll get with varnish, where each coat sits on top of the last one. As soon as you spray your next coat you've melted the coats below.

FWIW, I spray a sunburst in two days with nitro, the amber, black and red followed by 3 coats of clear all one hour apart. The next day I'll do another 4-5 coats of clear 60 minutes apart. I'll let it cure for a couple of weeks before I buff it.

Rattle can paints can be tricky, I've had enamels on stomp boxes wrinkle on me after hitting it with clear even though the color had dried for a week before I was able to get to it. Practice on scrap.

I will keep that in mind. I hate doing paint. This is the last time I use cans. Using a spray gun is so much easier and it coats more evenly.

What do you do to get that orange peel out without going through the color coat?

 

[Bevo1995]

What do you do to get that orange peel out without going through the color coat?

When I recently refinished my Telecaster, the color coats had a bit of orange peel. It wasn't bad, but it was visible up close. I did not sand the color coat at all. After spraying and sanding the clear coat the orange peel in the color was invisible. I was using automotive poly so ymmv.

 

[zenrad]

Same here. I don't touch the color coats with sandpaper. I may use a brush to get any dust or specs off. If the surface is grainy and pebbly then the finish went on too light. I try to spray wetter coats but not so wet that they run.

I spray a lighter clear coat over the colors before I start the clear build coats. I start with lighter passes and then after a few I'll spray a bit wetter. Any orange peel melts in by the time I'm finished with the top coats. I did about 10-12 coats of clear on my Strat when I did that 'burst. Before I started I saw a bit of orange peel in the color coats but now it's all smooth, deep and clear.

Worst that can happen is that you'll need to sand it back and start again. Don't ask how I know that

 

[bassgod76]

You know, I was wondering if the orange peel would go away if I burried it in clear. The only thing I do in between coats is a light steel wool, just to give the next layer something to grab on to. Of course I blow it dry of specs, followed up by a wipe down of denatured alcohol. It helps remove fine dust.

Thanks guys!

 

[zenrad]

You should be ok without sanding between every coat. Sanding between certain coats doesn't provide better adhesion but it does help to level and smooth the finish. The finish melts into the finish below it (with lacquers) and becomes one thick layer whether it's sanded or not.

These two books were an invaluable help for me, and I still refer to them once in a while, especially the Stewmac book.

Guitar Finishing Step-by-step

Understanding Wood Finishing

Your bass is looking good so far. Get those color coats on and once you get the clear over it I bet it'll look great!

 

[JMaris]

How did I miss this thread?

 

[bassgod76]

I'm not using lacquer. I'm using an enamel. Thanks for the advice.

 

[zenrad]

Enamel works the same, if I recall, it's still an evaporative finish and each layer would melt into the one below it. Sanding doesn't help adhesion between coats, but it can help in leveling the finish.