Winter Build Off 2026 - 5 String Fenderbacker

[mapleglo]

I repaired the chip and filled the crack with some epoxy yesterday and let it cure over night. This morning I did some more sanding and minor shaping and I think I have the final rough shape.

Now it's just lots and lots of sanding. I still have to rout the control cavity and cut the control plate, and do some fitting for the pickup routs. And of course some kind of round over. Oh, and I have to trim down that neck pocket.

I've also been thinking about what kind of finish I'll use on this, and Danish oil is in first place.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I'm a recent convert to wipe-on poly, goes on like Watco, but dries a lot harder. I use the foam makeup applicators, they work really well, like the worlds finest foam brush.They work just as well for True Oil or Watco Danish.

 

[Lo-E]

I'm a recent convert to wipe-on poly, goes on like Watco, but dries a lot harder. I use the foam makeup applicators, they work really well, like the worlds finest foam brush.They work just as well for True Oil or Watco Danish.

I’ll second wipe-on poly as being really easy to work with and more protective than Danish oil.

I’ll add that oil-based wipe on poly is much easier to apply than water-based* and that Danish oil is still the easiest. I have always added a couple of coats of paste wax to Danish oil finishes - it’s not really much more protective than the Danish oil is, but it’s easier to reapply.

*Based upon @Bruce Johnson ‘s recommendation, I’m using Minwax’s “oil-modified, water-based” poly on my latest project and it’s providing a nice, hard finish but there’s a bit of a learning curve with this stuff. All-in-all, still a very good, inexpensive product.

 

[mapleglo]

Much sanding.

And more sanding.

Those laminates should come out nice once the finish is on.

I also fit the pickups and bridge last night and this morning. I still have to deal with the control panel. You know, I have a little regret not just going with one P style pickup wired direct to an output jack, no controls at all.

 

[mapleglo]

Danish oil is still the easiest.

This is the money quote. At my age, and with my resources and current lack of painting equipment and space, ease of application and re-application is key. While I do still gig, most of my gigs these days are very close. In the past year, I haven't driven more then 20 minutes to the furthest gig. So the travel doesn't have much of a negative effect in the finishes. And if I gig twice a month, it's a lot. So yeah, Danish oil is looking better and better. And I may or may not apply paste wax over that.

 

[Lo-E]

Much sanding.
And more sanding.

View attachment 7436768

I’m digging the kidney bean/amoeba sanding block. You make that?

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Hey Nexy;

It's good to see some steady progress!

I'd call it an even-up match between Watco Danish Oil Finish vs MinWax Oil-Enhanced Water-Base Poly. Both are real easy to apply by wipe-on or brush on and, if you've done your sanding well, you don't have to do much else after the application. With either one, 1-3 light wiped on coats can make a fine-looking simple satin "wooden" finish. Not fancy or super tough, but acceptable. With minimal labor.

The MinWax has a couple of advantages: Much lower solvent fumes, cures quicker, fewer coats needed. And, if you want to, you can put it on thicker to build up a tougher more durable finish. or even take it up to a full gloss. With the additional level-sanding and buffing. It's your choice.

I work with a lot of folks in the movie/theater sets & props business. They love the MinWax because it's so simple and fast. From bare wood furniture to a good looking "oil" finish in one coat, cure for an hour, and it's ready to go on stage.

 

[mapleglo]

I’m digging the kidney bean/amoeba sanding block. You make that?

Yes, specifically for curved sections of instruments.

 

[Bonkersville]

I think that kidneyblock deserves to be copied.

 

[mapleglo]

Created, printed, and attached the pickguard template to the plexiglass this morning. Ready to be cut. I hate to cover up so much wood, but I'm thinking I'm committed at this point. I'm thinking the two knobs and output jack in a vertical row, like Orion's Belt.

 

[mapleglo]

Cut out the pick guard and took a pic of a mock up.

It's starting to look like a bass guitar.

I have to find or buy a couple of knobs, and some sticky sandpaper. And start on the control cavity.

 

[mapleglo]

So I made a slightly smaller pickguard. I may make the larger one even smaller, or just use the slightly smaller one. Just obsessing over the details here.
I also ordered a set of knobs and some 80 and 120 grit sticky backed sand paper for my "kidney" shaped sanding block. They'll be here tomorrow morning.

And thinking more about the control cavity, I really should have routed it before I started shaping the body so I could have screwed the template down. As usual, I became impatient. I hope it doesn't bite me in the posterior. I keep postponing routing the control cavity because I don't want to cut into that beautiful wood. I just have to bite the bullet. Maybe tomorrow.

 

[mapleglo]

So I started on the control cavity this morning. I imagined where the control might be positioned.

Made a template and started routing.

Finished routing, and started mounting the controls.

Just need to wire them up.

 

[mapleglo]

Had a gig yesterday so no work, but started sanding this morning. Went through 80 and started 120 grit, then ran out of steam. Doesn't look too different. I'll be ready to rout the roundover soon.

 

[13ghosts]

 

[mapleglo]

I did a bit more sanding and then shaved the neck pocket down to size. I'm ready to do the roundover. I think I'll start with the 1/4" and see if that's enough, and if not, work my way up.

 

[mapleglo]

Roundover is done. Now more sanding.

 

[mapleglo]

Switched to 220 grit this morning. I can still see some sanding scratches in the wood. I'll stay at 220 until they are gone or greatly reduced, then move up to 320, then maybe 400 if I'm so inclined. Then the Danish oil.

 

[Reedt2000]

The figure in those body wings is really cool, gonna look great with some finish on it

 

[mapleglo]

The figure in those body wings is really cool, gonna look great with some finish on it

Thanks! One of those sets I actually won in a build-off contest here several years ago. I've been holding on to it for all this time. I bought a second set at the same time as I was doing a lot of building at that time. I figured I better use them already before I croak or something. My son would just throw them away.