Laguna burger build

[RichterScale]

Sanding does kinda suck. I usually don't hate it hate it because the results are rewarding. The problem on this project is that no matter how much I sand, there will still be imperfections and things that I'm not super happy with. So the sanding feels like an obligatory task, rather than hard work with satisfaction at the end of the tunnel.
There were a few steps I did out of order, a few I half-assed and a few I could've used a a more appropriate tool for. It's all good though. I'll have my act a little more together on the next one.
I'm thinking of using rigid 2" foam to carve some test body designs for fit/comfort.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Sanding does kinda suck. I usually don't hate it hate it because the results are rewarding. The problem on this project is that no matter how much I sand, there will still be imperfections and things that I'm not super happy with. So the sanding feels like an obligatory task, rather than hard work with satisfaction at the end of the tunnel.
There were a few steps I did out of order, a few I half-assed and a few I could've used a a more appropriate tool for. It's all good though. I'll have my act a little more together on the next one.
I'm thinking of using rigid 2" foam to carve some test body designs for fit/comfort.

Or HF pine, that's still pretty cheap.
They have 1" thick boards in up to 11" wide . I just picked up some Doug fir and pine to make practice necks.

 

[RichterScale]

I've never seen any type of lumber at any of the HF stores around here. Granted, there's only 3-4 within a reasonable driving radius and I only frequent 2 of them.
I wonder if that's only a regional thing or even just an out west thing.
I wish they would sell cheap lumber. I could finish my house. I would buy $3 Chinese 2x4s in heartbeat.

 

[RichterScale]

I had the bass hanging in the middle of the work space, hung plastic to close off the area, ran the dehumidifier and let the stain dry for twice the recommended time, before applying the solarez. It says poly can be applied after one hour. I waited over 2 hrs at low humidity.
I wiped on the solarez with a cotton rag, very thin like in the highline vid. Did the front first. Took it outside and held it in direct sun for at least 5 min. Still had a few soft spots so I brought it back out and left in the sun for 10 min. Better. Brought it in and wiped a thin coat on the back side. Took it out and held it in direct sun for at least 5 min and made sure to move it around to expose every surface. Set it on the bench and ran to Depot to get wax. When I got back it was still wet in places. The sun was setting and it's going to be cloudy/rainy tomorrow. The only immediate option was to go to the pet store and buy the highest output UV bulb they had. Not sure how effective it will be. I can order a UV curing light, but it will be a few days before it gets here and I was hoping to be assembling tomorrow. I have some 4' fluorescent black light bulbs. I might rip out an old fixture from the garage and see if that does anything. I'm guessing the output will be too low.
Just not sure why the sun didn't fully cure the solarez.
Anyone know if either of these waxes are pure or mostly carnauba? There's no ingredients on the cans and online info wasn't helpful.

 

[Reedt2000]

I had the bass hanging in the middle of the work space, hung plastic to close off the area, ran the dehumidifier and let the stain dry for twice the recommended time, before applying the solarez. It says poly can be applied after one hour. I waited over 2 hrs at low humidity.
I wiped on the solarez with a cotton rag, very thin like in the highline vid. Did the front first. Took it outside and held it in direct sun for at least 5 min. Still had a few soft spots so I brought it back out and left in the sun for 10 min. Better. Brought it in and wiped a thin coat on the back side. Took it out and held it in direct sun for at least 5 min and made sure to move it around to expose every surface. Set it on the bench and ran to Depot to get wax. When I got back it was still wet in places. The sun was setting and it's going to be cloudy/rainy tomorrow. The only immediate option was to go to the pet store and buy the highest output UV bulb they had. Not sure how effective it will be. I can order a UV curing light, but it will be a few days before it gets here and I was hoping to be assembling tomorrow. I have some 4' fluorescent black light bulbs. I might rip out an old fixture from the garage and see if that does anything. I'm guessing the output will be too low.
Just not sure why the sun didn't fully cure the solarez.
Anyone know if either of these waxes are pure or mostly carnauba? There's no ingredients on the cans and online info wasn't helpful.
View attachment 4330800 View attachment 4330801 View attachment 4330802

Wow, that stain really makes the bass look good

 

[RichterScale]

Wow, that stain really makes the bass look good

I do like the stain (but the bass doesn't look so hot, so no closeups). And I ended up liking how it dulled down the contrast between the dark and light woods, more than I thought I would. The whole adventure of stripping the finish off this neck and reusing it, didn't work out very well for refinishing, so I kinda gave up at the end. There's still quite a few scratches that I didn't sand out and the stain is very uneven and blotchy because I didn't bother to seal anything first. But at least it hides the black specs. I knew by yesterday it would turn out crappy, but it's gonna be a beater bass and I just wanted to get some type of finish on so I can get it back together.
But I kinda like this look (color) for a scratch build. This little adventure definitely taught me a few things and showed me a few things that I like and don't like for the next one.
I like the wenge, I like the walnut. Maple is great if you're leaving it clear. I'm on the fence about the mahogany.
It's easy to work but I'm not crazy about the color or the drastic difference in the grains.
Next one might be all walnut & Wenge.

 

[RichterScale]

Also,.....this is working. Very sloooooowly. But it is working.
I should be able to get a 2nd coat on by Sept.

 

[TerribleTim68]

...and having to look up annoying in the thesaurus.

What's another word for Thesaurus?

I dunno @RichterScale, it looks pretty good to me. I know you had weird concerns about the black spots in the lighter wood, but a darker finish would hide it well enough. One thing I'm learning from all of my wood turning is that I can be my own worst critic. I know where all my problem spots are, I know what I messed up. Doesn't mean anyone else would ever know or see it. Chances are, the average Joe would just think those spots are part of some fancy wood grain. You're doing great, don't get discouraged now. You've almost got a bass, I envy being that close to done. I feel like I've hit a brick wall.

 

[RichterScale]

What's another word for Thesaurus?

I dunno @RichterScale, it looks pretty good to me. I know you had weird concerns about the black spots in the lighter wood, but a darker finish would hide it well enough. One thing I'm learning from all of my wood turning is that I can be my own worst critic. I know where all my problem spots are, I know what I messed up. Doesn't mean anyone else would ever know or see it. Chances are, the average Joe would just think those spots are part of some fancy wood grain. You're doing great, don't get discouraged now. You've almost got a bass, I envy being that close to done. I feel like I've hit a brick wall.

Thanks man. I know the average Joe wouldn't notice a lot of the bad stuff or know it was bad unless I showed them and told them why it's bad and they would probably think I was a weirdo. Most of the people I know would probably say, "wait, you made that?" and think it was cool. But,..... Look where we are right now and look at the stuff being built here. So yeah, aside from figuring out why the solarez won't cure, I'm just focused on the frets and setup now. If I can get that part right and it plays good, I'll be happy. I'm not really discouraged because I honestly didn't have expectations or set a bar on this. All it really did was motivate me to build another one from scratch and do a good job.

 

[TerribleTim68]

I totally hear you regarding the bar set on this forum. I have a list of specific people I blame for that, they know who they are, I know who they are, I'll keep my list close at hand. You've been warned.....

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I had the bass hanging in the middle of the work space, hung plastic to close off the area, ran the dehumidifier and let the stain dry for twice the recommended time, before applying the solarez. It says poly can be applied after one hour. I waited over 2 hrs at low humidity.
I wiped on the solarez with a cotton rag, very thin like in the highline vid. Did the front first. Took it outside and held it in direct sun for at least 5 min. Still had a few soft spots so I brought it back out and left in the sun for 10 min. Better. Brought it in and wiped a thin coat on the back side. Took it out and held it in direct sun for at least 5 min and made sure to move it around to expose every surface. Set it on the bench and ran to Depot to get wax. When I got back it was still wet in places. The sun was setting and it's going to be cloudy/rainy tomorrow. The only immediate option was to go to the pet store and buy the highest output UV bulb they had. Not sure how effective it will be. I can order a UV curing light, but it will be a few days before it gets here and I was hoping to be assembling tomorrow. I have some 4' fluorescent black light bulbs. I might rip out an old fixture from the garage and see if that does anything. I'm guessing the output will be too low.
Just not sure why the sun didn't fully cure the solarez.
Anyone know if either of these waxes are pure or mostly carnauba? There's no ingredients on the cans and online info wasn't helpful.
View attachment 4330800 View attachment 4330801 View attachment 4330802

Oh, the vinyl Esther formula I'm afraid I have no experience with, I used the I can't believe it's not lacquer formula.
It'll stay till tomorrows light. The cure will pickup where it left off. I found a 5 minute cure sufficient, if I was flowing another coat. 10 minutes ensured a hard cure. I don't imagine that formula would be dramatically different, but possibly.
Also note that the stain had a dry time and a cure time, if the stain is still coming off onto a dry rag when it is Dry, it is not fully off gased, and remaining solvent may influence (slow) the cure for subsequent products, or weep bubbles, create fisheyes ETC.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Also,.....this is working. Very sloooooowly. But it is working.
I should be able to get a 2nd coat on by Sept.
View attachment 4330899

The cure light has to have its highest intensity at 385 nm.
Most grow lights are in the 400 - 800 range and fairly low wattage.
Party black lights are low in content of the necessary frequency.

 

[RichterScale]

Yep. Even though the stain claimed to be dry and ready for clear in 1 hour,...and I let it dry for over 2 and nothing was coming off with a dry rag, I suspect it may be the culprit. I even wiped the stain down with a rag damped with thinner after letting it set up, so it was even less stain to dry.

 

[RichterScale]

And yes, I thought it was working slowly, but I just went down and checked and it's really not. So I shut it off. I'll order a cure light tomorrow and see what shows up first, that or the sun.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

All things noted above, I recently used water based Varathane Ultimate on my workbench (s) and was pleased and surprised how fast it cured in my very arid location.
More testing upcoming, it does not self level the way that ICBINL does.
VU does not build film thickness as quickly as ICBINL.
I am finding that VU is a good product for my purposes, but ICBINL better for others.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I've never seen any type of lumber at any of the HF stores around here. Granted, there's only 3-4 within a reasonable driving radius and I only frequent 2 of them.
I wonder if that's only a regional thing or even just an out west thing.
I wish they would sell cheap lumber. I could finish my house. I would buy $3 Chinese 2x4s in heartbeat.

They must have lumber!
I'm talking the crap, " common," grade pine .
Example:
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Lumber-.../1x12/N-5yc1vZ1z18gp1Z1z1a6ed?storeSelection=

A stack of kiln dried 2x4 studs ($5.30) could be jointed and glued, to make a prototype .

For that matter palate wood could work .
At my goodwill / salvation army or any other thrift stores, garage sales furniture coffee tables end tables etc can be found on the cheap and salvaged for suitable wood for such applications.

Piano benches out of cherry, heck even an unwanted workbench top, chopping boards..... etc.

 

[RichterScale]

I'm not giving up on the solarez products. I'm convinced I did something wrong and I'm going keep at till I get it right. I do plan to experiment on the side with different products like shellac and different water based poly, to get familiar with how the behave and when/where I can use them.
But the solarez is a good fit for me because of the quick cure time. I'm impatient with finishing and that will never work out well. So I need to get familiar with this solarez stuff.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I totally hear you regarding the bar set on this forum. I have a list of specific people I blame for that, they know who they are, I know who they are, I'll keep my list close at hand. You've been warned.....

I can't be on that list, I'm still clawing my way out of mediocrity.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I'm not giving up on the solarez products. I'm convinced I did something wrong and I'm going keep at till I get it right. I do plan to experiment on the side with different products like shellac and different water based poly, to get familiar with how the behave and when/where I can use them.
But the solarez is a good fit for me because of the quick cure time. I'm impatient with finishing and that will never work out well. So I need to get familiar with this solarez stuff.

You may have better results with the ICBINL formula.

 

[RichterScale]

I went with the vinyl instead of polyester because it's more durable. But I'm going to order a small jug of the ICBINL for future projects. Also, a curing torch. Chances are, half the time I'll spend putzin' around the shop will be because the weather is crap and can't work outside. So I'll need an indoor alternative.
Anyway, I replaced the ballast on the light fixture and rigged it up to pulleys, so I could adjust the height. The majority of the sticky bits seemed to be cured this morning. Not sure how or why. I did read that solarez products need O2 to prevent it from hardening or going bad, I forget the terminology (says to open the cap on occasion to replace the O2 trapped in the container). So, people report it being cured, but still tacky on the surface because of O2 exposure. So, I hit the few sticky spots left with 800 and it seemed fine. I wanted to get another 1-2 coats of the vinyl on before waxing, but I skipped it and just waxed it.
I really like this look with the dark stain and satin finish. I'm going to try some different sealers and staining over the sealers with different stains to see what combo works best for good, even color. I'm undecided on the body shape, as I just riffed on a design I found on the internet, drew it and cut it. I have no idea if it will be comfy yet. Once I play it for awhile, I'll see how much of it I'll keep on the next one. I like how the wenge board looks, but I want to try the rocklite ebano next.
There's a lot I'll take to the next build from this one, but there's also a lot I won't repeat. I like this stain/color/look, just minus the flaws and halfassed work.
I got a coat of wax on. Tomorrow I'll take a stab at frets and fret leveling, then another coat or 2 of wax, then put this puppy together and see if it sounds like a bass.
Once this is done, I'm gonna slap together the CBG. It will be practice for a scratch neck (albeit miniature) and practice on more finish technique. And it will be a fun, light project with no stress or pressure. After that, I'll head into a serious bass build.
Although, if this current bass sounds like crap and I can't get it set up, I may quit and just become a goat farmer.