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In a pickle
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=52588
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Author:  banjopicks [ Wed Oct 30, 2019 7:48 am ]
Post subject:  In a pickle

I filled with : AQUACOAT WHITE WOOD GRAIN FILLER and sealed with vinyl sealer before spraying lacquer but it doesn't look like I did anything. Where do I go from here?

Author:  Bill Braske [ Wed Oct 30, 2019 8:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

I want to know , too. I used Aquacoat on my last build and I don't know if I did something wrong, but when I would level sand it, it was like I never filled the pores. I don't really hate the look I was left with, but it was definitely not what I was shooting for.

Author:  B. Howard [ Wed Oct 30, 2019 2:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

How many coats of filler?

Author:  banjopicks [ Wed Oct 30, 2019 3:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

Not enough :-) I think only one, I haven't learned to not take shortcuts. Someday when I grow up maybe. I'll bee 66 in December.

Anyway, I'm stripping it back and using epoxy to fill the grain.

Author:  B. Howard [ Thu Oct 31, 2019 7:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

Figure 4-5 coats minimum on average wood and up to 10 on certain really open pore wood.

I would test you epoxy over pores that still have aquacoat in them before committing to the guitar. I'm sure it will stick but might give optical problems.

Author:  banjopicks [ Thu Oct 31, 2019 7:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

I don't have any practice ash to test on. Do you think I should stick with the aquacoat? I originally use white toned with amber dye. I'm thinking if I build up with that I'll have some pretty wide grain/filler streaks. That's why I wanted to use something clear like epoxy.

Author:  banjopicks [ Thu Oct 31, 2019 7:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

The white Aquacoat was purchased by mistake, I thought that was all they made but now I see they make a clear.

Author:  banjopicks [ Thu Oct 31, 2019 8:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

Seemed logical from your post to get some clear Aquacoat from Amazon. It' will arrive tomorrow.

Author:  banjopicks [ Fri Nov 01, 2019 7:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

Flip flop. I stripped it back with a scraper so I can use epoxy and not worry.

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Author:  banjopicks [ Fri Nov 01, 2019 3:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

It still needs a little more work with some sandpaper but I'd like to start on it again this weekend. I have the clear Aquacoat now but if you think that won't play well with vinyl sealer I'll wait til I can get some Z-Poxy as that seems to be the most popular epoxy for guitars. I didn't see any problem other than not enough coats.

Start to lacquer finish, what steps? I don't want to strip it again. I've read that regular epoxy works fine but I also read that it doesn't sand as well as Z-Poxy.

Author:  banjopicks [ Fri Nov 01, 2019 5:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

Getting board tomorrow to do it right,test on scrap. That way I can answer my own questions and not worry.

Author:  banjopicks [ Wed Nov 06, 2019 8:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

For the first time ever, I'm actually testing on scrap. I put the first coat of Z_Poxy on a little heavy but using a scraper I got it level in no time. It looked pretty darn good but I decided to put a second coat on to be sure. I'll scrape and sand it tonight and start adding some vinyl sealer and start coloring it after it's perfectly level.

My thoughts on Z_Poxy
Awesome!
Easy to apply
Easy to scrape back and lightly sand
The grain looks beautiful under this.

I got some red oak from a friend, I figured it's pretty close to ash as far as grain filling goes.

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20191105_102809.jpg


I shaped it a little to approximate a guitar and sanded to 220. Here it is after 2 coats.

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Author:  banjopicks [ Tue Dec 03, 2019 2:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

After a bunch of failed attempts at spraying a burst I went back to hand rubbed. After watching many videos I figured out how to do it and it's much easier in my opinion. Man that was almost a month ago. Here I am today and I really like it but the guy I'm doing it for wants more orange coming out from the red. So I ordered some orange and yellow dyes to try to make it look exactly the way he wants it.

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Here's what he wants only with the grain showing like I have it. It was a little miscommunication. I think it's pretty close but he would like me to get it closer.

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Strat (2).JPG

Author:  banjopicks [ Fri Jan 03, 2020 11:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

I stripped that off and started again. Well I still don't have this grain filling thing down. I thought I did. I used a couple of coats of Z-Poxy and it looked great. I started spraying the burst, got away from hand rubbed and back to where I started. Don't you know those pesky grain lines started showing up again. I don't get it. Anyway, here's the latest, looks exactly like the previous picture that my friend wanted. Now I just need to put enough coats of lacquer to fill any lines. I was thinking of drop filling.

Attachment:
20191231_145336-COLLAGE (WC).jpg

Author:  Freeman [ Fri Jan 03, 2020 1:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

I am a firm believer in Zpoxy for both pore filling and a certain amount of grain enhancement. I usually apply two coats full strength, sanded back to wood after each coat, the one more highly diluted with alcohol which doesn't get sanded before finish gets applied. If I'm going to stain I usually do that before the first coat of pore fill goes on - I know that the Zpoxy will add a slight amber tint. If I was going to do a sprayed sunburst like yours I would seal the Zpoxy with vinyl sealer before starting the color. When I'm in doubt I always experiment on a scrap of the same wood.

I had had enough questions about Zpoxy at another forum that I wrote up a little thread about it.

https://www.tdpri.com/threads/zpoxy-for ... nt.940522/

Author:  banjopicks [ Mon Jan 06, 2020 1:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

Freeman wrote:
If I was going to do a sprayed sunburst like yours I would seal the Zpoxy with vinyl sealer before starting the color.


That's exactly what I did and it looked perfect. I guess I need better lighting or something. Anyway, I am going to build a telecaster style next. I'll use ash and make sure I have the grain filling down.

Author:  banjopicks [ Mon Jan 06, 2020 2:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: In a pickle

Is it possible that the Z-poxy wasn't fully cured and washed out?

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