Guitar Gear Forum

I think a poly coat needs like 10 coats before it starts to look good?

Where's Mort & Nobody?

JerEvil wrote:

mamberg wrote:Oooohhh........

Yeah that looks cool but I do NOT trust myself with a torch!!! Lol!

I am really digging the JCM headshell with the D60 though.

Yeah, if you dig that look, you gotta practice it on a virgin piece; get it how you want & then stain or not, or clear a piece. It takes nice steady grain-long strokes of the torch. Seriously, not a huge deal, but kinda fun & artistic. Pine is easy if youre ready, but some woods can be daunting! Either way you have to be practiced ahead of time!

By muddy, I'm guessing you mean too dark/unclear?

This really isn't the finish doing that, but most likely you have too much dye applied. Using the 2 or 3 different stains on top is not gonna be the best way to get the results you want, imo. You are just saturating the wood with color and by the time you do the coating process you'll start to see all the mishmash of the colors. There is a learning curve that comes with experience to know when the color is right. Ideally you mix the color you want and apply it in 1-2 coats.

But if you are unsure with the polycrylic, then try spraying shellac first. You wouldn't want to just use shellac since its protective properties arent that great but it does make an excellent sealer. But spray a few light coats cause shellac is very thin and runs can happen easily. Which I'm sure will pick up the stain as it runs and cause obvious signs of it.

ajaxlepinski wrote:I think a poly coat needs like 10 coats before it starts to look good?

Well, it'll take numerous coats to getv the build up and desired gloss, but after 3-4 coats the color won't really change. So, if the color isn't right after a few coats then more won't really help. Although, a nice looking finish will also make anything look better. So, even if the color isn't exact, it still can look pretty nice once complete.

It's tough to see in the pics exactly what muddied up means, although i think its just too much dye rather than the poly reacting with the dye and causing issues

Thanks EndTime. I'm just going to stick with black and go with it. Still testing the isopropyl vs. straight water. It's just a damn head she'll after all!

Would you still say not to use a pre conditioner?

Ok...

So I sanded the second test board w/150 grit with the grain. Used a slightly dampened cloth to wipe it down. Then used 4oz warm isopropyl and 2oz warm water mixed with 1/8tsp dye powder.

Came out SIGNIFICANTLY mo' bettah!!! Seems to be much more evenly saturated. Did one side straight black and the other side just added the littlest bit of brown and blue.

I'll see if I can get pics up but it's dark as shit out.

EDIT:
Here's one good pass of the black only. Let it sit for 6 minutes and then wiped excess off.

And here's with 3 coats of PolyCryic

That looks great!

GRIMESPACE wrote:That looks great!

Thanks man. I was getting pretty upset thinking this was going to look shitty. I was all "alright dammit! Last test before rattle can black all over this damn thing!!!"

Going to rattle can the inside of the headshell tonight. Hopefully I can get it stained in the morning then clear coated over the weekend.

I'm going to try building up a headshell out of pine for my Boogie this weekend, so I can transport easier to GABfest. Won't have time for tolex, but I may try out your formula so it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb

GRIMESPACE wrote:I'm going to try building up a headshell out of pine for my Boogie this weekend, so I can transport easier to GABfest. Won't have time for tolex, but I may try out your formula so it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb

Well I will be happy to send you the dye I didn't end up using. There's brown, red, blue, yellow and will be a little bit of black left.

Jus t let me know.

Shit yea! I'll take it!

GRIMESPACE wrote:Shit yea! I'll take it!

Cool. Shoot me your address and I will get it out this weekend (along with those chicken heads...)

One thing I noticed was that I really DO need to sand lightly between finish coats. Since this is the second baffle that'll be getting grill cloth I wasn't too worried about it but will do for the actual head.

Awesome! PM on its way

GRIMESPACE wrote:Awesome! PM on its way

Got it.

Thanks.

Yeah man, I think that looks good. Its gonna be very cool.

RIFF wrote:Yeah man, I think that looks good. Its gonna be very cool.

Thanks man! Hopefully I will have pics up over the weekend of "Phase 1". I am ordering grill cloth and piping for the extra front panels I did the staining tests on. So I will have one stained nice and 2 others to swap out if I get bored of the aesthetic.

GAB is seriously a cool place with cool dudes doing cool things with gear and music.

Modesteban wrote:GAB is seriously a cool place with cool dudes doing cool things with gear and music.

Understatement is understated

Taped up for flat black goodness. No Titan!





Back of front baffle



Pretty clean tape job.



Got one or two spots I'll have to spot sand but overall I give it a B+! Going to let it dry for a bit and then staining this damn thing!!!

That looks great - no splotchiness or anything bad that I can tell.

And thank gawd you're doing the back of the baffle. What a fustercluck you just avoided

GRIMESPACE wrote:That looks great - no splotchiness or anything bad that I can tell.

And thank gawd you're doing the back of the baffle. What a fustercluck you just avoided

Lol! The dude would NOT abide!

Ummm... yup. It's looking pretty sweet

Damn hommie lookin' good!!!

Telephant wrote:Damn hommie lookin' good!!!

Thanks Hommie!!!

I had been really stressing over this as I didn't love ANY of the test boards. The stronger dye mix with alcohol/water mix was definitely the key. Starting to clear coat it tonight.