sMg Guitars

January 26, 2008

Released the neck/fretboard from the rubber band clamp, cleaned up the dried glue squeeze out.

Made a significant order from StewMac for finishing supplies and a bench vise. Arrival due next weekend. In the interim, I carved out the neck around the headstock diamond, filed down the fret ends, trimmed up the fretboard to be flush with the neck stock, and sanded the neck. Still need to clean up the neck foot which I glued the end cap to. Prior to receiving the finishing supplies, vise, and special fret beveling file, I can begin the process of shaving and shimming the neck dovetails. Should be interesting, as this seems to be the most technical and accuracy will be at a premium.

February 1, 2008

Set diamond abalone into headstock, used knife to square out after drilling round holes. Set with clear epoxy. Worked on fitting the neck, then added remaining frets. Some frets wouldn’t seat fully, and had some chip out. Don’t know why, and can’t learn any lessons other than I need to make sure I fully seat frets before gluing final step. Mill filed fret ends, used fret angle file block to angle the fret ends. They will need some cleanup and dressing, which I will do just before gluing the neck on.

Worked in Rob Girdis’ shop on February 2^nd to get some dovetail joint advice. John, another workshop participant gave me some advice, which I applied. It was very similar and reinforcing of the instructions from Stewmac. Masked the soundboard and the fretboard and 220 grit sanded all mahogany. Applied stain, 200 drops of Red Mahogany in 4oz. of water, and applied to body and neck. Did not mask the binding, but next time I should. Made a spray booth in my workshop with garbage bags and sprayed a post stain lacquer wash coat to seal the stain. Did not anticipate the noxious fumes from the spray lacquer. Whole house reeked for several hours after spraying. Hmm. What’s the alternative?

February 11, 2008

My family threatened to dispose of me if I didn’t come up with an alternative to spraying the lacquer somewhere else besides in the house. The garage is chock full of stuff and isn’t a reasonable alternative as fumes will still get into the house. So I started thinking of outdoor spray booth constructions, something portable, something that could be heated, wind resistant, and rainproof. We have a big old camping tent that started to look like the answer. I bought some high heat portable work lights, set up the tent in the back yard, rigged a painting scaffold on a ladder and purchased myself a respirator, and found this solution too be ideal.

Through February 18, I have applied 6 coats of lacquer, and the guitar and neck are scuff sanded to release trapped lacquer in preparation for the next 6 coats to be applied in 2 days.  After the final six coats and some wet sanding, the guitar will have to sit for 2 weeks for the finish to cure.

The guitar finally received 12 coats of lacquer on February 23^rd.  Took down the spray booth and put the guitar in my workshop to cure.  I lightly sanded with 600 grit and removed all rough spots.  Will begin the wet sanding and polishing March 8^th.