Is it advisable or useful to use wood hardener on a soft wood like basswood prior to priming it?
Basically, Minwax Wood Hardener is a resin that is suspended in a solvent. When you apply it, the solution penetrates the woodgrain. The solvents evaporate, leaving behind the resin. Like the label says, it's wood hardener. It makes wood...well, hard. How hard depends on the type of wood and how much hardener it can absorb.
It's often touted as the quick and easy way to make repairs on rotting wood. I have used it in the past when I've built something out of a relatively soft wood that will see moderate or severe use, like medicine cabinet doors, for example. Using it on a basswood body would, in theory, make the wood more resistant to chips and dings.
+1, any help regarding painting would be greatly appreciated. Is it possible to use a band saw in a home depot or would anyone know the best way to shape the headstock?
They might rent you a bandsaw at Home Depot, but they won't let you use theirs. In this case, a bandsaw might be overkill.
A cheaper alternative would be to buy an inexpensive jig saw (I think Black & Decker has one of their newer models available for around $35) and use it to rough cut the headstock shape. You can then use some elbow grease, files and sandpaper to bring the wood to the final dimensions. You could also borrow a jig saw from someone you know, if that's an option.
I've actually cut maple, koa and even Goncalo alves (tigerwood) by hand with a coping saw, but I wouldn't recommend that to everyone. Actually, I wouldn't recommend that to
anyone.
