Guitar 1001 – Knockdown!
April 23, 2011
The lacquer on the koa dreadnought has cured for two weeks so it is time for knockdown. Knockdown is where you sand the lacquer with increasing fineness of grade sandpaper on blocks. The key is to remove all high spots, orange peel and drips until the surface is mirror smooth. Each decreasing grade of grit removes any scratch marks from the previously higher grade of sandpaper. It’s critical not to sand through the lacquer.
220 dry to remove drips
400 dry to bring surface down to flat, removing orange peel.
600 wet
1200 wet
Buff!
These shots are before sanding.
Note the rosewood veneer backing on the headstock.
The koa is just magnificent.