Peelings. Wo-oh-oh-ooo peelings... (BaCH NR and a stripper)

[Lightyear]

Yeah, I would try some 320 for the edges.  Grain filling is an art - rub off too much you just have to go back and do it again - leave on too much you sand for ever - rub it down too soon you just wipe it out of the pores   I'm down to three coats on ash and a two, usually, for mahogany.  The filler tends to load the sandpaper down so switch it out often, of course you figured that out by now .

Or you could be like Gibson - hit it with one coat of filler, sand it and paint it

[Barklessdog]

I learned to use two on my mahogany projects and using it liberally (yes more sanding, but better sealing)

[drbassman]

When it comes to edges, I barely sand mine as they typically don't show a lot of oragne peel.  Don't ask me why!  And yes, going to s 320 or 400 for edges is probably a good idea if you have it.  Better safe than sand through!

[chromium]

Well the grain filling went good, ended up using two coats.  I sprayed the sand and sealer when that was done.  That kinda surprised me at first - I guess I was expecting something more like a high-build primer, but what came out looked more like a thick, semi-gloss clearcoat.  I've never worked with it before this.  Cool stuff, since the sheen helped reveal any imperfections:




I had one issue with the veneer on the back @ the upper horn.  I'm not sure if it was the block sanding thinning it too much, or if the stripper caused it to lose adhesion in a couple small places - almost like bubbles, or hollow pockets under the veneer.  I carefully slit the veneer in those spots with a thin razor, worked in some CA glue, and pressed it back down with a plastic spreader (resistant to the glue).  This seemed to work out, and just required a touch of filler in those spots.  Whoops!!   

After leveling the front, back, and sides I sprayed the first primer coat.  Here it is now:




Hey - it looks just like it did when I started! 

[Lightyear]

Looks great!  When are you shooting the color?  Wating for the humidity to drop?

[drbassman]

Looks great!  Nice work!  Can't wait to see it finished.

[gearHed289]

Hey - it looks just like it did when I started! 

Ha! That's what I was thinking! That's gonna be one sweet bird when it's done.

[chromium]

Thanks all!

When are you shooting the color?  Wating for the humidity to drop?

I found a blurb with some (hopefully valid) tips to avoid blushing here:

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Avoiding_Blush.html

Based on that info, the conditions are right on the edge at the moment.  We've been getting some Houston weather!  Any other week I'd be coming inside from working on it dried up like a piece of jerky with a nice svelte tan!  




I'm waiting on the pickguard now - should be here any day.  Once that arrives, I can fit it and finalize the position to route for the second pickup.  I'll probably do the routing and drilling, then resume with sanding and a second primer coat, and then start into the color coat.

[Highlander]

Overdid the spray-tan, Joe... 

Nice for the thread to get back to the topic... (guilty as charged for assisting in inciting a riot; may I ask for 2 billion other offences to be taken into consideration...?)

Looking good... 

[chromium]

Hey I like off-topic.  Drives people nuts, but generally bodes well with my attention deficit traits.  

Overdid the spray-tan, Joe... 

Gotta use up that can of amber-tint somehow!   

[Highlander]

Sorry... what did you say, er... Joe, isn't it... 

[Highlander]

How's the fin going, Joe...?

[chromium]

How's the fin going, Joe...?

I'm kind of in a holding pattern at the moment.  I have a 'guard coming from Terrapin, and I'm just waiting on that to arrive so I can be 100% sure of that second pickup's final position.  I'd really like to do the routing while its still primered... just in case!

[Highlander]

I'm doing my routing before anything else... just sourcing the timber, which has not been as easy as I thought... 

[Barklessdog]

Saw it was 110 degrees in AZ.

Looking great Joe.