Construction Log for KMG J45-Style Dreadnought

[TonyinNYC]

Looking good! Is this your first time with Z-Poxy? How do you like it? I really like using it.

[dave d]

I've used Zpoxy once before, on my first guitar with the rosewood back and sides. I like it, although I haven't tried anything else to be honest. Nevertheless it does the trick for me and I'll stick with it.

[dave d]

Ready to start to spray the Deft rattle-can lacquer.

Back: Zpoxy done, ready for lacquer.

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Sides: Zpoxy done, ready for lacquer.

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Top: Zpoxy done, ready for lacquer.

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First coat of lacquer.

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Picture taken after a couple of coats. Up close you can see all the dimples and wrinkly bits. And a few scratches show up, so they'll need to be sanded out when the level-sanding is done.

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I sand this until most of the shiny stuff is gone. You sand all the high spots spray again, repeat, and eventually build up a sufficient coat.

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Ready for another coat. I found that subsequent coats go on smoother each time, so there's less texture that needs to be leveled as you progress.

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It may not be shiny now, but it's definitely getting "sheeny".

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[dave d]

Final coats of lacquer put on before letting it cure.

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While the lacquer on the body is curing it gives me a chance to dress the frets.

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[dave d]

Final sanding and polishing after letting it cure for at least a week to 10 days.

Starts out shiny, but wet sanding with 800 w/d sandpaper makes it dull again. That will change...

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getting a bit of sheen...

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and a little sheenier as you move up through the sanding grits... (ignore that piece of 320. I only used 800 or higher at this stage)

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after using a polishing compound

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A fairly good reflective surface

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[TonyinNYC]

That's a pretty decent finish. I would give it higher marks, but I can't read the writing on the light bulb!
What grit did you sand up to?

[dave d]

That's a pretty decent finish. I would give it higher marks, but I can't read the writing on the light bulb!
What grit did you sand up to?

I'm sure I have a photo here somewhere where you can read the wattage on the bulb in the reflection :)

I went up to 2000 grit. Overkill perhaps, if using the rubbing compound?

One my last guitar I used micromesh. On this one I did not, as I wanted to see what was achievable with the grades of w/d and the polishing compound.