Winter Build Off 2018 - Idle Hands are the Devil's Walnut

[mapleglo]

Third coat of epoxy sealer applied.

3rd Coat Epoxy

• mapleglo
• Mar 15, 2018
• epoxy

3rd Coat Epoxy

I had hoped to start spraying clear this morning, but there were a few spots left that really needed another epoxy sealer coat. The top had some natural incursions, and I wanted to fill them as much as possible. I should be able to get 20 coats of clear on this before the end of the contest - 5 coats each on Fri, Sat, Sun, and Monday, and then spend Tuesday wet sanding (yuk), polishing, and assembly. OK, maybe I'll go with 15 coats of clear, and have an extra day for final finishing and assembly...

 

[sissy kathy]

That is really looking good.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Thanks! Glued up the wings. I probably should have glued on the maple veneer first, but that deadline is approaching.

Phew. When you posted this, I though you had skipped the maple veneer as I didn't bother to zoom to full size and could not see it. Then I saw on the latest finish picture that it was there. You just meant you didn't glue the maple on as a separate operation, but with the dowels there, I can't see any loss from gluing it in one go? Not like things can slide around much on dowels...

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I hadn't noticed before how you used the circular swirls in the grain pattern at the rounded portion of the body wings, like little chocolate cyclones. By design or accident, that looks cool!

 

[mapleglo]

the circular swirls

Out here in Phoenix, we call those Invalid Link Removed

That is really looking good.

Thanks!

Phew. When you posted this, I though you had skipped the maple veneer as I didn't bother to zoom to full size and could not see it. Then I saw on the latest finish picture that it was there. You just meant you didn't glue the maple on as a separate operation, but with the dowels there, I can't see any loss from gluing it in one go? Not like things can slide around much on dowels...

Right, I wanted to do that originally in two steps. It's actually easier in 2 steps because the transition from the wing to neck by the upper portion can be smoothed with the wing still off the body, but it's still manageable. And yes, the dowels hold everything in place.

 

[JIO]

As an added note, I just heard back from the band that I auditioned for last week, and they offered me the position, which I promptly accepted. I'm going to try hard to get this build finished by the deadline, but after that either way, I'll be spending the bulk of my time practicing and playing

Can't wait to see pics and hear samples of you and your new band!

 

[mapleglo]

1st coat of clear sprayed, many more to come.

1st Coat Clear

• mapleglo
• Mar 16, 2018
• clear coat

1st Coat Clear

 

[postalflunkie]

drooldrooldrooldrool

 

[JIO]

1st coat of clear sprayed, many more to come.

1st Coat Clear

• mapleglo
• Mar 16, 2018
• clear coat

1st Coat Clear

Is it going to be a satin finish? In this shot it looks satiny - like a fine furniture finish.

 

[mapleglo]

Is it going to be a satin finish? In this shot it looks satiny - like a fine furniture finish.

It depends on how much time I have. In that picture, the clear coat is still wet, thus the shine.

 

[mapleglo]

Started on the second set of 5 coats of clear this morning.

2nd Set Of 5

• mapleglo
• Mar 17, 2018
• clear coat

2nd set of 5 coats of clear, note the imperfection

Not sure what happened with that one spot by the heal. It's as if that little section of the wood didn't take the epoxy filler or something. Well, there's not enough time to strip and re-apply - it will be "gig-able" per the contest rules, and I'll deal with it later.

 

[mapleglo]

OK, 10 coats of clear applied. Current plan is to do 5 more tomorrow, let cure overnight, then sand to a satan finish' That'll give me two days to assemble and attempt to put up a sound clip.

10 Coats Done

• mapleglo
• Mar 17, 2018
• clear coat

10 coats of clear applied

 

[mapleglo]

Started on the control panel.

Control Panel

• mapleglo
• Mar 17, 2018

control panel

Probably going to cut that down a bit, so that the volume knob is just proud of the sides.

 

[mapleglo]

And here's the control panel cut to size and in position.

Controls

• mapleglo
• Mar 17, 2018

control panel set into position

 

[TroyK]

OK, 10 coats of clear applied. Current plan is to do 5 more tomorrow, let cure overnight, then sand to a satan finish' That'll give me two days to assemble and attempt to put up a sound clip.

Satan finish you say? Appropriate.

 

[TroyK]

Side note:I've really been enjoying watching you build this beautiful bass.

 

[mapleglo]

Thanks!

I'm spraying on the final set of 5 coats this morning. No pics, as it pretty much looks the same. I did notice that I am apparently a "notable" member for uploading the highest number of pictures.

@Beej is coming up fast though...

 

[Fat Freddy]

I happen to think that "Notable" is an understatement for both yourself and @Beej....

 

[ddtkills]

Beautiful work Mapelglo! Maybe I missed it in earlier posts, but what type of clear coat are you using that fully hardens that soon for finish sanding?

 

[mapleglo]

Beautiful work Mapelglo! Maybe I missed it in earlier posts, but what type of clear coat are you using that fully hardens that soon for finish sanding?

Thanks!

I'm using the ProFinisher by Parks. I add a little floetrol which helps it spray smoother 4:1.

Profinish

• mapleglo
• Mar 18, 2018
• clear coat

clear coat

I usually like to let it cure 2 days, but I think I may even be able to sand tonight. We'll see.