L-00 Kmg walnut-spruce log and very basic questions thread.

[ken cierp]

The prep is about the same for any finish coating -- and is indeed is one of the keys to a nice finish.


viewtopic.php?f=25&t=43

[mike-p]

Sorry for the very basic questions but I have paper that says No.180 Aluminium oxide waterproof, will that do for the prelimanary sanding?

Even more basic - what am i aiming for with the sanding?

[peter havriluk]

Mike, I'm treading into dangerous waters by commenting, but (there's always a 'but' in this sort of discourse) you might measure your tuners against others and act on what you find. If, in fact, the StewMac tuner posts are really 'short', and others are longer, purchase the others and see where that takes you. I'd hate to have a project driven by, and made more complex by, a third-party's hardware. There is a likely possibility that these comments of mine are all wet and should be ignored, too. In the overall scheme of things, hardware's cheap, time is not. And we might as well do what's right, even if it means substituting some hardware.

[mike-p]

please comment away, am learning a lot, as building this guitar goes on I'm seeing it more and more as a learning experience for building more rather than aiming for perfection first time round.

I drilled the holes for the SM tuners today so they'll be going on, although they are short as they are deliberately designed for a gibson style tapered headstock.

I'm pleased with the look of the headstock as is but i will be sure to report back if it cracks so as to not deny anyone an 'i told you so'!

[ken cierp]

I'm seeing it more and more as a learning experience for building more rather than aiming for perfection first time round.

In my view that is a slippery slope -- one is not likely to feel real good when an obeserver, says first thing -- "so you must have made this yourself" -- the response that leads to a good feeling that lives forever is something like "where did you get this guitar." Few mistakes need be long lived and cannot be perfectly corrected ---- Now and always is the time to demonstrate your very best craftsmanship. Take the time to find out how to do it right and how to make the errors invisible --- this is time well spent.

[Kevin in California]

Mike, it partly depends on the type of finish you are going to apply, but in general, work your way up to 240 grit, no finer then 320. You can start at around 120 if you have sanding scratches to eliminate, otherwise the 180 is a pretty good starting point.
You don't want to go too fine as you need something for the finish to "grab" on to. You don't want to put a "polished" surface on the wood before applying a finish, except perhaps TruOil. I understand they recommend going pretty fine.

Kevin

[mike-p]

Thanks Kevin, one more tiny sanding question, cork block or just holding the paper?

Ken- I meant more learning experience in terms of design choices and structural and acoustic outcomes but thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow!