Righty Oh. I made some progress over the weekend. Finally. I decided to go with a two-colour option, just to spice things up a bit.

I got ‘cherry red’ and ‘light oak’ stains that I added as below. The idea being to go with the natural laminate lines and not ‘square’ or symmetrical or anything like that.

So I started with the red and was happy with the way things were progressing. I found a few places that the red simply did not want to penetrate – little scuff marks and, possibly, places where the original finish may not have come off properly. (I’ll deal with these later).

I then did the oak colour and found that my technique of using a cloth and sponge was working well, until my wife pointed out that most of the colour was going into the cloth. (face palm) She (brilliantly) then applied a layer with a small paint brush and the immediate colour pop was AMAZING. Needless to say, the photos don’t show that. I am hoping it will pop when the final oil/sealant is applied.

Before Brush

After Brush

So that’s where we are now, Hope to update soon. Tru-oil has been ordered and should be here within the week.

Lots of refinements to do, straighten lines and what not, but at least the body has some colour!

wern101 immediate colour pop was AMAZING. Needless to say, the photos don’t show that. I am hoping it will pop when the final oil/sealant is applied.

if you think it was amazing then. just wait till its sealed.. its going to be pantie dropping awesome.
always found it looks good wet, dull and lifeless when the stain has dried, and great when sealant has been applied

Tuckstir always found it looks good wet, dull and lifeless when the stain has dried, and great when sealant has been applied

Well that is good news indeed. I mean, you kinda know that is what is going to happen, but at the same time worry it won't. Looking forward.

wern101 Digging that! Fun to see you and @Tuckstir keep on truckin' - love it!

wern101

Cheery red on that neck would be awesome.. but it might clash with the body colours maybe do a test on some scrap wood first to compare..

If you are using a water based stain.. like Clou from Blackbeardsden.. an easy way to get the flame to pop with minimal sanding is to wipe it on with a cloth,, then immediately wipe it off, almost wiping all off with a damp/wet cloth..

just to highlight what i was saying earlier about applying water based stains..
this piece of scrap pallet wood.. after a bit of sanding, stain was applied and then washed off again.. leaving this. no sanding has taken place since staining.

as with everything prep work is the most essential part,, never skimp on prep work.. makes everything so much easier.

Delays Delays Delays.

So the little box of goodies arrive. Not so good after all. No Tru Oil, instead a bottle of Teak stain. :face_with_rolling_eyes: Contact supplier. They are sorry. Will send ASAP.

Eventually get around to inspect the hardware and...
End cap for selector switch doesn't fit. Website says it must be ordered additionally but the thing arrives with one on already, wrong colour. The one i ordered does not fit.
Humbucker Pickup Rings do not fit the Humbuckers!! WTF!?!! Their website says the humbucker is sold without the ring, get one by clicking the link. Great. Ordered. Arrived. No fit.

As for making a pickguard - total ballsup. Figure I will order one from Raru and just mod it the way i want it to look.

Frustrated....

Tuckstir and about making the pick guard.. what happened?

Tried to make one out of galvanized. Got pretty far, but doing the cut outs is a 'b1tch'. I can still do it, but will look really crap (not nice and smooth). To do a nice one with a water or plasma cutter will probably cost me around R1K - for a pickguard...erm.... no.

Still no reply from the supplier about my other issues.....

wern101

If you can supply a autocad file, I can give you a laser cuter that can do it for less than half that.. especially if you drop my name...

or send me the file and I'll see what I can do..

wern101

If you are willing to do the work yourself, you can buy time at Made in Workshop (http://madeinworkshop.co.za/). I've used them before, and they have a laser cutter, plasma cutter, lathe, cnc milling machine, drills, welders, benders, 3d printers etc. You pay per day of use. I usually wait until I have a bunch of things on my list and then buy a 10-day package which works out to R175 per day.

klaasvakie

Problem is our esteemed friend wern101 Lives out in the middle of nowhere.
but looks like a cool place to go tinker about in

Tuckstir d wern101 Lives out in the middle of nowhere.

Ah, forgot about that. Maybe there are similar maker spaces in the V-Town area? I know there are a couple in Joburg and a couple in Pretoria. I've only been to the one above though, quite close to where I work so it is convenient.

Thanks Guys. Nelspruit isn't exactly 'nowhere', but yes, we don't have a quarter of the stuff they have in the big cities. And Nelspruit is known for being excessively expensive for anything not considered normal. (That means everything)

I will still see about the Pickguard. Hoping to get everything sorted before the Xmas break. At least I'll have a guitar to play again. Started with the Tru Oil coats yesterday.... ?

klaasvakie spaces in the V-Town area

Eish @wern101, obviously had you confused, I think its @warrenpridgeon thats in the v-town area? I love Nelspruit, would move there in a heartbeat if I could find a job there.

klaasvakie move there in a heartbeat

Says everyone I talk to. It's very 'clicky' down here. Had to carve out an existence when I moved here 18 years ago... has not been easy. But there are big developments and big opportunities opening up. Keep your nose to the job classifieds and I am sure something will pop up. I'd be nice to have a fellow forumite down here. When can even organise our own garage days. ?

wern101 I have three good mates down there, so I do get to visit a couple of times a year. One is a very competent guitarist, but his guitar seems to spending too much time in the case nowadays --- kids + work I guess. I'll let you know when I'm there again, maybe we can do a garage day.