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Check this out. You way ahead of the game Tim. I hope to start filling and finishing soon.
Tim's Healdsburg batch Sorry Tim I was snooping the compitition John How38461.4693402778

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Beautiful guitars Tim, you shouldn't have any trouble selling these.
Congrat's Brother!!!!
Walter

Those are some fantastic looking bodies.

Hi guys and thanks for the kudos. You are all welcome to snoop anytime you like. I am shooting the last coat of vinyl wash coat this evening then I will shoot the 2 part Urethane Saturday and Monday. This is my first experience with Urethane as I have been a lacquer man for 13 years. Lance gave me the thumbs up on the Urethane as this is what he just had sprayed on his Coco box and I was quite impressed with the pics. I sure will sleep a LOT easier after the HB batch guitars are in cases! Anyone else feeling the pressure yet?

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Yes I am, I'm finishing up construction on the last box but still have several necks to be made and I haven't even started the finish process yet. I have cases on order but so far that's only a promise. It's seems to be still early but I'll certainly be glad when they are done.
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So Tim, you are using a two part Urethane? Can you tell us a little more about that. Lance's recent finish sure looks nice. What brand, what's the application schedule like, etc.
Thanks, John

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

John:
It is a McFaddens product and this is my first experience with it. I spent some time talking with some other well known luthiers who are using it and have also contacted Peter and Neal at McFaddens for their technical advice. Below is my finishing schedule and notes about using this product:

Not recommended to use sanding sealer as pore filler as it could cold check!


Spray one wash coat of McFaddens vinyl sealer over bare wood sanded to 180 grit.
Pore fill wood with Z-poxy or standard paste pore filler
Wait 3 days to dry, scuff sand.
Spray vinyl wash coat
Scuff sand with 280
Finish (see below)

Mix:
First flush gun with Butyl Acetate [not lacquer thinner]
4 parts L-4108 McFaddens Urethane
1 part      CV2117 McFaddens Hardener
Stir thoroughly

Apply 3 medium wet coats per day
Wait 1.5 hours between coats to off gas
4 hour pot life and then it starts to thicken
Suggested to mix fresh batch each time you spray

Wait 24-48 hours
Level sand with 280 grit sandpaper
Stearate sand paper will not cause problems
Apply 3 more coats of Urethane finish and stop
Clean gun with lacquer thinner

Wait 5-7 days before buffing
Wet sand to 1000 grit
Buff with 3 compounds (medium, fine & extra fine)

Drop fills are not successful as it will not burn into the finish. Must scuff first.

Clean up with Lacquer thinner

Thin with Butyl Acetate at 10% if needed

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Thanks very much Tim. You are a very brave man trying out a new finish just before this show. I think I'll play it safe and go with what I have tried (ktm9) but I am sure interested in how it turns out and may I be green with envy when your done.
Best of luck, John

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I hear ya brother. It is scarry ground I am treading on but I gotta do it sometime and no time like the present. Besides I have talked with enough folks who are having a LOT of success with this finish product and those conversations have eased my trepidations. I have also been searching for a bit more durability over lacquer but I just wish it was a bit more environmentally friendly though.

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com