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I have decided I want to try out West System epoxy for my current build and have been looking through the archives for info.

It seems that some people like to sand the epoxy back to bare wood and just leave the epoxy in the pores. Others leave a thin coat of epoxy on the wood.


I'd like to hear from people who do it either way and why they like that option. I'm expecting to hear answers such as "it looks better this way" or "That's the way 'Bob the expert' does it so I do it that way also."

I have read that the epoxy really makes the wood grain stick out. Do you agree with that?

Thanks!!   

Graham,
It all depends on what you're using for a finish.
In the case of something like KTM-9, you'll want to apply a water-thin wash coat on after you've sanded back and have everything completely level.
This realy pops the grain of the wood, which won't happen with straigh KTM-9.
If you're shooting lacquer, then vinyl sealer will pop the grain, so no need for the wash coat.
This is of course, just my opinion, but it works well for me.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Don,

I will be using KTM-9. So I'll try what you suggest.

Hesh,

Yes after posting I came across a link to the Doolin KTM page and read the same thing.

Thanks guys,

"That's the way 'Bob the expert' does it so I do it that way also."


Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Which way do you do it then Ron?

Graham, The problem with sanding back to bare wood in areas is you run the risk of getting different 'wetting' and color differences. And as mentioned any water base will not 'wet' as well as oil base and the difference can be huge and really ugly. Epoxy is NOT easy to work with IMHO but really pops the rgain as other have said.

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Thank You and Best To All

Sorry, Graham, cheap shot.   I haven't done it. My first guitar is cherry, which doesn't require filling, and I used tru-oil on the neck, no filler there either. Smooth as a baby's posterior.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

swish!

That's the sound of your joke flying over my head.   

I use thinned west system which I put on and then rub in and wipe off just as it starts to set up. Then I sand it back to bare wood leaving just the pores filled, no problem with "different wetting and colour differences as only the pores are filled. Very little sanding needed this way. One time I put it on thicker and tried to just level everything leaving just a thin layer. For me that diddent work, by the time I was happy I was going through the epoxy in spots and ended up sanding it all back.

I have switched to sanding it back to the wood. I did a few where I left a very thin coat to "wet" the wood. It was fine until I buffed through the finish (KTM). If you buff through there is not a good way to touch it up. I ended up striping the top and refinishing.

So I now sand back to the wood and have switched to nitro.

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
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