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OtherTom · March 26th, 2011, 09:07 PM

This week I sprayed my tele body with:

5 coats of clear nitro, sanded between coats.
4-5 coats of tinted red mahogany nitro around the edges for a very slight sunburst effect.
4 more coats of clear nitro.

I now have a very beautiful gloss finish that I want to dull down for a more natural look.
What's the proper way to dull this down?

I was thinking I'll probably wetsand with 600 after it sits for a few days, then wax.

I'm concerned about sanding into the tinted coats, so how many more clear topcoats should I apply to be relatively safe?

Thanks,
Tom

Colt W. Knight · March 26th, 2011, 09:29 PM

Just buff it with some 0000 steel wool, and you will get a beautiful matte finish.

naneek · March 26th, 2011, 09:46 PM

I agree with Colt, that's exactly what I would do. Post a picture when it's finished! :)

Colt W. Knight · March 26th, 2011, 10:11 PM

This was steel wooled.

Stuco · March 26th, 2011, 10:15 PM

+1 on the steel wool. I've read the micro mesh from stew mac works even better for this but I'm too cheap to try it out.

OtherTom · March 26th, 2011, 10:41 PM

Thanks guys. I will post pics soon. The slight tint of red mahogany isn't what I hoped it would be, but the more I stare at if the less I hate it-lol

OtherTom · March 27th, 2011, 12:57 PM

Well here's some pics with the hardware just laid on. Strange color, still not sure. In different lights it looks red or brown. Matte finish looks great though, too pretty to strip it down and change tints, so I guess I'll start a new one this week.

Loudog99 · March 28th, 2011, 02:33 PM

That looks great to me! I think a Tortoise pickguard (which I normally hate on sunburst finishes) would look killer on that. I take it you are going sans pickguard since I see a neck pickup ring.

Love those satin finishes- so comfy and smooth.

March 26th, 2011, 09:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
OtherTom Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: State College PA Age: 55 Posts: 1,020	Taking gloss down to matte This week I sprayed my tele body with: 5 coats of clear nitro, sanded between coats. 4-5 coats of tinted red mahogany nitro around the edges for a very slight sunburst effect. 4 more coats of clear nitro. I now have a very beautiful gloss finish that I want to dull down for a more natural look. What's the proper way to dull this down? I was thinking I'll probably wetsand with 600 after it sits for a few days, then wax. I'm concerned about sanding into the tinted coats, so how many more clear topcoats should I apply to be relatively safe? Thanks, Tom

March 26th, 2011, 09:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Colt W. Knight Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Age: 29 Posts: 18,923	Just buff it with some 0000 steel wool, and you will get a beautiful matte finish. __________________ the now mandatory =====>

March 26th, 2011, 10:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Colt W. Knight Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Age: 29 Posts: 18,923	This was steel wooled. __________________ the now mandatory =====>

March 26th, 2011, 10:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Stuco Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: GA Posts: 7,741	+1 on the steel wool. I've read the micro mesh from stew mac works even better for this but I'm too cheap to try it out. __________________ -"You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the best. You want to be considered the only ones who do what you do" J. Garcia

March 27th, 2011, 12:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
OtherTom Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: State College PA Age: 55 Posts: 1,020	Well here's some pics with the hardware just laid on. Strange color, still not sure. In different lights it looks red or brown. Matte finish looks great though, too pretty to strip it down and change tints, so I guess I'll start a new one this week. Attached Thumbnails

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March 26th, 2011, 09:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
naneek TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Francisco Posts: 68	I agree with Colt, that's exactly what I would do. Post a picture when it's finished! :)

March 26th, 2011, 10:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
OtherTom Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: State College PA Age: 55 Posts: 1,020	Thanks guys. I will post pics soon. The slight tint of red mahogany isn't what I hoped it would be, but the more I stare at if the less I hate it-lol

March 28th, 2011, 02:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
Loudog99 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Howell, NJ Posts: 331	That looks great to me! I think a Tortoise pickguard (which I normally hate on sunburst finishes) would look killer on that. I take it you are going sans pickguard since I see a neck pickup ring. Love those satin finishes- so comfy and smooth.

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