The Danish Oil/MiJ Squier/naked rebuild

slyd

Well, at last I'm in a position to start uploading progress here.
Overview: Got a job in to re-finish a MiJ Squier strat, in nekkid form. Included in the job was a complete fret-dress, and overall "make nice", and set-up.
The body is 98% done, the neck is done, the electronics are done, and will be assembling . . . . .
Over the next few days, I'll post before/after and comparison pics.
*(Just a big thank you to many of you for your input on various queries I had along the way - in other threads)

A few before pics:

Don't you just love the way sh*t collects in out of the way places ?

To be continued . . . . Feel free to comment along the way !

slyd

Well, that was FUN!
Then I queried on GFSA the best method to strip the finish . . . . heat gun, yeah ? let's do it . . !
Now imagine my surprise when I came across this . . :

OMG ?

Behold, some strange really really tough coating on front and back ☹
Now I was stumped ???

slyd

As usual, I queried this anomaly here on GFSA, and, thanks to Alan and the rest of you friendly peeps, it was found to be an epoxy primer/sealer.
Now, this stuff is super hard! But, as my client wanted a bare nekked body, you (we) all agreed that this could be sanded off . . .
hehehehe. Easier said than done :-\

It took 3 hours of power-sanding per side !!!

But it was worth it . .

It ended up not having the best-matched laminates for a naked finish, but we shall continue ?

I needed a little reward after all that *phew*

21Fretter

Looks absolutely awesome. What did you pay for the heat gun? I've been thinking of repainting my 7 string.

Tonedef

What wood is that?

singemonkey

Tonedef wrote What wood is that?

Basswood, I think. Not as pretty or as hard as Alder, but cheaper and good sounding.

slyd

@21Fretter - The heat gun I bought a good few years back. I think it was +- R350 then. *?* But, maybe just for your repaint job, you can borrow one?! But anyway, it's definitely the way to go to remove the finish - It almost came off like a naartjie peel ?

@Tonedef & singemonkey - Alan thought it was basswood at first, but after a few pics with the epoxy sanded off, he decided that the closeness of the grain structure was more like alder :?
Another keen word-working mate of mine had half an idea it was maple ???
I've got a bunch more photies coming . . . is that ok?

Norman86

Keep the pictures coming ?

slyd

Norman86 wrote Keep the pictures coming ?

coool . . . . here they come . . . . ?

slyd

Okay. So now I finally had this girl naked ? !

I was still mulling over what type of natural finish to do on her, and my mate (client) mentioned he had seen a few oil finishes on guitars, and he really liked them.
Alright, I explain that an oil finish is not as hard-wearing as a lacquer or poly finish, but I secretly want him go with it anyway ? hehe
He does ?

Yay.. . . . I had done a bunch of research already on oil finishes, and had seen, and heard, great reports about Danish Oil.
Right, I live in Margate (laid-back & lazy holiday town), and I need to find Danish Oil ?
Only 2 hardware stores in the entire Margate/Ramsgate area stock it! One store was R200 per quart, and the other R129 per quart ??? Who makes up these prices?
2 Choices - Natural or Golden Oak ?? Again I put it to GFSA and you lot: . . . the consensus was to go with a colour to blend the laminates more. Cool. Golden Oak it is !

I start with the oil, but, holey moley*, after 2 coats there is uneven absorption of the oil, across certain areas of the guitar.

I panic ☹ and place pics on the forum, and I receive good worldly advice and encouragement (thanks all).

I continue coating every 24 to 48 hrs, rubbing with fine steel wool and oil, every alternate coat.

This is what a fresh wet coating of Danish looks like:

Norman86

Very nice... So hopefully you're finished with her!! i wanna see a finish like that wet danish oil ?

slyd

Norman86 wrote i wanna see a finish like that wet danish oil ?

Yeah right ! Looking for a more soft look/feel than a gloss 8)

Patience my good fellow. The end is nigh * Plenty pics in-between though ? (thank goodness for digital cameras*)

slyd

I work on the neck, dressing and re-crowning all frets, in between body coats:

I made a handy concave-grooved jig for holding sandpaper when sanding and buffing (helped create a really cool rounded crown)

slyd

After about 10 coats of the "olio a' Danish" I shield all the cavities:

Shielded with e-Tape (or aluminium tape, or geyser-blanket tape)

Painted the back trem cavity to get rid of the last of the ikky yellowey colour!

G...G....G... Gotta go . . . dinner's a-calling ?

Norman86

Looking good...
I must admit though, i preferred the glossy natural look more myself!

one question though, you do know that to receive the full benefit of shielding the cavity, you need to actually let the shielding overlap the routing so that the shielded pickguard can then create the actual shield?
This did make sense right?!

costafonix

well done, you're doing a great job. :yup:

Jacquesg4j

If you wanted some info to get a nice glossy look, feel free to PM me!

costafonix

thanks,,what grade steel wool are you using?

slyd

@ Costafonix - Thanks ! The steel wool is pretty fine - it's the one that comes in a roll (sorta looks like a sausage ?)
It was given to me to use by a woodworking mate.

@Norman86 - Yeah, that did make sense, hehe. Don't worry, I've created continuity across all shielded areas, in a way I shall reveal with later pics. But yes, it's good you bring that up ?

Thanks for all the responses and input everybody, it really makes things interesting ?

Norman86

Sweet... i look forward to your solution ?
and more pics ?

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