Not sure about a big white blob, but this one made out of a single piece of flame maple, while definitely weird, really blew my mind!
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Winter Build Off 2022 - The Crook
- Thread starter Beej
- Start date
Not sure about a big white blob, but this one made out of a single piece of flame maple, while definitely weird, really blew my mind!
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I didn't have my phone for a few days so a couple of steps were not documented. I tested the fit of everything and ensured measurements all checked out and then I started the epoxy grain fill. This is the second application before sanding back. The padauk and purpleheart need more filling than the walnut. I'll do one or possibly two more applications and then start the finish.
I feel like p'dook would have been a perfect aesthetic 3rd wood to the bass I'm currently working on. I was torn between doing a 4 or 5 string and settled on 4.
If the current bass turns out sounding and playing nice, I think I need to build a 5 string version with lots of p'dook mixed in.
I hope you're happy.
If the current bass turns out sounding and playing nice, I think I need to build a 5 string version with lots of p'dook mixed in.
I hope you're happy.
If I owned that bass then that cover would end up getting torn out really quickly unless that's some meaty screws holding that on.
Edit: by the way, it's "puh-dowk". You're welcome.
I was worried about that when I first started doing it, but none of them have ever once come off without intentionally trying to take them off. I uncontrollably shake, shimmy and wiggle when I play, generally moving in ways that are hideously embarrassing to my teen daughter.
I've also done them where the jack plate is screwed to a cover plate and the cover plate is only held down with magnets, and it's not been a problem either. The main thing is having the cord go out and over the strap, which generally keeps it in place. The magnet one can't be removed easily. I have to pop it off by inserting a hex key into the jack and push against the top with quite a bit of force to get it off. The cover is neo magnets holding against neo magnets in the body. 
I've had some trouble filling the deep grain of the padauk. The cold cure epoxy I used I think is too thin, so after a couple of tries, I turned to another pore filler I've used successfully (LePage). I tint it with a drop of mixol black and rub it onto the surface. Here I've used 220 and sanded back what's in the foreground so you can see what it looks like dried on.
Here's a closeup of the grain now filled.
Still so much to do.
Here's a closeup of the grain now filled.
Still so much to do.
Still stepping ahead and back, ahead and back. The grain has shrunk back a tiny bit but it's still much better than it was. I ran into a bit of an issue with the Osmo Polyx - you're supposed to put it on thinly, wait 15 min and then wipe it off. This worked perfectly on my test piece, but when I went live, it hardened in that 15 min window. So that meant I had to sand it back with a scotchbrite and start over. Not the end of the world, but it's cold and I'm lazy. You can kind of see a spot towards the top left of centre in the pic below:
Here it is sanded back again:
Last coat goes on tonight, so I'm getting closer.
Neck is still in progress - the epoxy fingerboard still has some process left before it's finished. I didn't take a pic I guess... thought I did.
The grain has shrunk back a tiny bit but it's still much better than it was. I ran into a bit of an issue with the Osmo Polyx - you're supposed to put it on thinly, wait 15 min and then wipe it off. This worked perfectly on my test piece, but when I went live, it hardened in that 15 min window. So that meant I had to sand it back with a scotchbrite and start over. Not the end of the world, but it's cold and I'm lazy. You can kind of see a spot towards the top left of centre in the pic below:
Here it is sanded back again:
Neck is still in progress - the epoxy fingerboard still has some process left before it's finished. I didn't take a pic I guess... thought I did.
Thanks, I am really liking the feel of this finish when dry. It feels super slick and has none of that grabbiness that sometimes gloss finishes can have on bare skin.
Speaking of which, here's a gratuitous morning sun shot.
This is last night's finish application. I think I'll smooth it out with a white scotchbrite again today and do one more application and then call it done. I set the control and pickup covers in place for the pic, but they have not yet been smoothed out and only have one coat. There are dust nibs and it looks like hairs in it too. 
So very nice to have some sunshine here on the gloomy wet coast.
It's been a grey and wet winter.
Thanks, I am really liking the feel of this finish when dry. It feels super slick and has none of that grabbiness that sometimes gloss finishes can have on bare skin.
Speaking of which, here's a gratuitous morning sun shot.
So very nice to have some sunshine here on the gloomy wet coast.
Incredible!!!
WTH @Beej, I drove home in the rain last night and everything is wet this morning. It's not actively raining right now, but it is very overcast and grey and the side roads are still wet....So very nice to have some sunshine here on the gloomy wet coast.
Well, I bet my weather is on it's way to become your weather shortly.WTH @Beej, I drove home in the rain last night and everything is wet this morning. It's not actively raining right now, but it is very overcast and grey and the side roads are still wet.
Oh sure, after you suck up all the sunshine out of it, then send it Tim's way.Well, I bet my weather is on it's way to become your weather shortly.
Nice! If I were you I'd include some sun shots in my submission post.
Well, I bet my weather is on it's way to become your weather shortly.
I saw a cloud once down here. I think it was in 2019. Maybe 2018.
Good idea but we might not get any more sun until summer.
Yeah, that's rough...
Good idea but we might not get any more sun until summer.
Yeah, that's rough...
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There really was no other way to respond than to come back with Billy Madison. Brilliant!
