Official Luthiers Forum!

About to get my Gibson style double cutaway really for finish. Been wondering if I should install the badge and tail piece posts before finish or after? The holes are already drilled. Ive had problems with lacquer chipping with installs after finish. Whats your process?

these are a pain to remove without scratching once installed.

_________________
https://www.instagram.com/fostinoguitars/
https://www.facebook.com/PuraVidaUkuleles/

Hi Dave, hope all is well in your world.

I install the threaded inserts before finishing and fill them with a bit of paper towel to keep the finishing materials out of the threads. To install after finishing, use a hot soldering iron as a press to push the insert into the body.

Steve

I use a countersink in each hole after finishing to remove any overhanging finish. This also creates a "breakage point" so that any finish damage when installing hardware will not progress into the finish surface. You don't have to remove much finish with the countersink to make this work. This also works on tuner holes.

I do pretty much as Barry - finish the guitar with the studs out, clean the holes by hand with the correct drill bit and counter sink them (again by hand). I just try to barely cut thru the finish and put a very slight bevel on the lip of the hole.

Ironically, that is something that I will be doing this afternoon on a guitar I'm builiding.