painting pickup cavities??

[gatc]

Hi everyone

Sorry for this stupid question but when it comes to wood, i'm a complete novice.
I'm planning to enlarge the pickup cavities on my HWY1. That will leave some bare wood exposed. Do i need to paint some lacquer over it or is it just fine like this?
What kind of lacquer would be suitable?

The body is Alder.

Thanks for reading!

[StevenJM]

the only thing you'll need to paint it with is the black conductive paint. or just use the copper shielding tape.

[gatc]

Hi StevenJM

Thanks for your suggestion.
My question is not so much about shielding, but more about wood and how to protect it (if at all required)

[KevinB]

Hmmmm, so you're a "complete novice"with wood, yet you plan to enlarge the pickup cavities?

Step away from the router

But seriously, it probably doesn't matter, but if it was me I'd seal them with something - any old clear varnish would do as you won't see it.

But probably the best thing to paint the cavities with is......you guessed it, shielding paint!

[StevenJM]

yea, i would seal the wood first... i'd just buy a small can of minwax poly, or the wipe on poly, or find some tru-oil, just to protect it incase any moisture would find its way in there somewhere down the road... then shield it and you're good to go

good luck.

[gatc]

Originally Posted by KevinB

Hmmmm, so you're a "complete novice"with wood, yet you plan to enlarge the pickup cavities?

Step away from the router

Well, every novice has to learn at some point

Anyway, thanks for the advice KevinB. It has always surprised me that on Fender guitars, the neck pocket has no lacquer.

[KevinB]

Originally Posted by gatc

It has always surprised me that on Fender guitars, the neck pocket has no lacquer.

Many would argue that the neck joint is the most critical part of the guitar and you want the best wood-to-wood contact you can get there. On my builds I always sand the contact points as flat as I can.

Also, when Fender paints bodies, they screw a "paint stick" to the neck pocket for ease of handling and drying and this masks the pocket from the paint.

[gatc]

I called an experienced guitar tech yesterday and he told me he wouldn't seal the wood as most techs don't. I guess they just can't be bothered to do it.