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eddiewagner · July 3rd, 2007, 04:19 AM

you guys are crazy!!!!

Jelly · July 3rd, 2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean79

Locking it in that box won't hurt the cure time?

Might speed it up - not a bad idea at all, and it will cut down on the fumes. But you may have to watch for condensation on the inside of the lid, Buckocaster.

Buckocaster51 · July 3rd, 2007, 03:20 PM

The "dust box" worked just fine yesterday. The clear on the back looks fantastic and is dust free.

The front is not quite so good. Like I mentioned it has some pretty good sized goobers on it. It MAY have to all come off and be done again. But before I do that I am going to try to knock down some of the high spots and recoat it.

First we will attack it with 220 grit paper.

Put it on.

Take it off.

But kids...it is coming off too slowly!

Let's try a different track.

How about some 60 grit on the palm sander!

That Imron is TOUGH stuff. But then I guess it is supposed to be.

Look at those HIGH SPOTS come off!

I'll work up through the grits...60, 100, 220, 400.

Buckocaster51 · July 3rd, 2007, 03:30 PM

It actually looks pretty decent. I wiped it down with lacquer thinner to get an idea what it will look like after the next coat of Imron, and it looks pretty good.

EXCEPT!

bootliquor.com played something by Folk Uke that got me laughing, and I lost concentratioin for JUST A SECOND!

and IT happened!

ARGH! Me Mates!

But! If I am as good at this stuff as I sometimes think I am...I SHOULD be able to make it go away. (Or not!)

Besides, most of it will be under the binding/purfling that we are going to paint on.

First let's mask it off.

Hit it with some watermelon paint.

Then sprinkle some new glitter.

I'll let it dry for a bit and hit it with some DEFT.

Let that dry and then proceed with the Imron.

Only time will tell if I get away with it.

Argh!

Film at 11:00!

aznrambo481 · July 3rd, 2007, 03:40 PM

so how heavy is the body now?

Steve G · July 3rd, 2007, 03:46 PM

This is a great thread.

An epic tale of one man and his creative vision.

Buckocaster51 · July 3rd, 2007, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aznrambo481

so how heavy is the body now?

It's surprisingly not so nearly as heavy as it might maybe look.

I'll have to rustle up a fishscale from one of the locals...many of whom FOOLISHLY spend their discretionary money on BASS BOATS rather than important things like TELECASTERS!

Shame on them!

Besides...I've never bougth into that thing that heavy guitars sound better. If it is light when it gets finished...so be it!

Buckocaster51 · July 3rd, 2007, 07:06 PM

I'm just back from a trip up the road where I scored a handful of NOS 600V 047 uF caps for these current projects...but more on that later.

The KRYLON and DEFT have been deemed to have had sufficient time to dry in the booboo zone...

This what the repair looks like. I think it will be okay when the Imron goes on. (Speaking of Imron...after several years of supporting Macintosh computers at work...and all of those iPrograms...do you know hard it is to actually capitalize the first "I" in a name?

The whole thing looks like a mess. There is much work to do to the sides. I won't be at all surprised if the side stuff alll comes off. But I have crossed a hump in the learning curve and I don't think it will cost me but a couple of days.

The top looks very decent when I wipe it down with acetone.

It actually looks like this... with what MIGHT be the last coat of Imron on the top.

It is sort of "arriving" at where-ever it is going.

If you know what I mean.

Wally · July 3rd, 2007, 08:01 PM

there is a reason why a pro 'flake finish is worth $350 and up. IT is labor intensive, it requires pro spray equipment and technique, and it is messy.
Did I say it was messy? G&L doesn't do flake anymore because of the contamination of the finish environment....the flake gets everywhere and will show up in non-flake finishes done later.
Example: A friend was telling me a couple of weeks ago about getting in trouble after being dragged to a strip club by his wife's brother's for a bachelor's party. AS he told me the story and while I was working on his new PRS, I couldn't help but notice one green sparkle on the bridge of his nose. I finally had to inform him that it was no wonder he got in trouble because he still had evidence on his nose. He couldn't believe that some sparkle from the lap dance was still in his eenvironment. The party had been a week before.

Fellow TDPRI member Jeff James dropped his latest acquisition off today for a bone nut and set-up. This guitar was 'flaked by the man who did G&L's flake finish. It is a beauty...and pink.

The second shot of the gold 'flake is one that I did about 10 years ago for Lloyd Maines. The flake is multi-colored. From different angles, the flake yields different 'spot' colors. This shot yields mostly golds. Other angles shows blues, greens, reds...it has seen stages in Las Vegas and all across Texas. Robert Earl Keene liked to use this dazzler when Lloyd owned the guitar. Forgive the quality of the pic...it is a picture of a picture.

urizen · July 3rd, 2007, 08:16 PM

Honest to God, this is just such a nice thread to experience (it goes WAY beyond just a read)---it ramblesmeanderswandersdigresses into such pleasant pastures....it's almost like a kind of communion (if that doesn't sound too sappy). I really look forward to each new installment of the project and the sharing from the "congregation".

Very cool, Buckocaster51.

Buckocaster51 · July 3rd, 2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wally

...It is a beauty...and pink.

Thanks for sharing.

I've heard that pink is the new butterscotch!

You ain't just whistling Dixie about that flake getting everywhere. It is showing up all over the house.

I would think it would be a HUGE problem in a commercial environment.

This is a top notch learning experience for me. Especially brushing on the Imron. I would have never thought about that. But it IS working!

I'm starting to look forward to being able to start thinking about painting on the binding. Bob the Painter says we can do the checkerboard purfling-no sweat...I'm curious about how he proposes to do that, but he can work miracles with an airbrush.

Wally · July 3rd, 2007, 08:37 PM

You're working hard, Buck.
IME, sanding is about the last thing you want to do with flake. If you sand the flake, it will show after the final clears are on. The sanding dulls the sparkle. It is a difficult thing to get the clear thick enough to prevent sanding through while leveling. That is why spraying the flake is advisable. It lies down better than when 'sprinkled'.
I do commend your work ethic and curiosity.
Good luck with painting on some 'binding'.

Buckocaster51 · July 6th, 2007, 07:45 PM

I hear you Wally. Thanks for sharing your expertise.

But...(and you knew this was coming

)...I'm ploughing ahead...figuring the worse-case-scenario is that it will all have to come off.

I have that goop on SO thick that I am hitting VERY few pieces of flake. (Or at least I think I am hitting very few pieces.) As you will see, I am getting brave, and being pretty aggresive about getting the goopiest of the goop off.

Something else I have noticed is that somewhere in the process, the "purple" is coming off of the flake and it is turning silver. It's stuff that is buried WAY deep as well as stuff near the surface. In fact, it seems to be ALL of the flake. I'm guessing that it has something to do with the DEFT that sealed everything with. I bet the lacquer thinner is just stripping the color right off. We'll have to do a little test later to see if that is the case.

So here is what has happened today.

The sides, especially the bottom near the strap pin, has accumulated LOTS of goop. I'm going to try to take most of it off with the oscillating drum sander...carefully, carefully, carefully. Very slowly.

But if I sand through...so be it. I can redo it...and maybe do it better the next time.

No sand throughs yet! The stuff is REALLY thick.

Hip hip horray!

I made it around with no sand throughs!

Here you can maybe get an idea of how thick this stuff really is. I'm pointing to a depression that didn't get sanded...

The goop is real thick there yet. Really thick!

The blue tape is my attempt to protect the bottom of the guitar from the table-top. But I don't think you could hurt that Imron with a 5-iron. It seems pretty tough.

I have to go play in a roadhouse tonight. Unfortunately I'll probably have to stare at scantilly-clad young women instead of working on the Meloncaster...but tomorrow is another day!

Oh!...I have my TDPRI "Some Assembly Required" shirt. Do you?

emailhot · July 6th, 2007, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

Oh!...I have my TDPRI "Some Assembly Required" shirt. Do you?

I love this build! everytime I log on I check for an updated post. and yes I have my some assy shirt, I got the green one. been thinking that I should probably order the "eat, sleep, play" shirt too

andy__woods · July 7th, 2007, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

Oh!...I have my TDPRI "Some Assembly Required" shirt. Do you?

It's one of my favorite shirts! I've gotten plenty of comments about it, all positive, and most sound a little like this, "oh wow! cool shirt!"

Buckocaster51 · July 7th, 2007, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

I have to go play in a roadhouse tonight. Unfortunately I'll probably have to stare at scantilly-clad young women instead of working on the Meloncaster...but tomorrow is another day!

Kids...I am back...and do I have some stories!

Unfortunately for you, what happens in Backwater*, stays in Backwater!

You'll have to use you imagination!

Just kidding. All of the young men and women, tomorrow's leaders of this nation, and the people who will be working to pay my social security, were all perfectly behaved!**

*Backwater = the band I play with

**and if you believe that...I have shares in a beefsteak mine I would to talke to you about!

Buckocaster51 · July 8th, 2007, 10:20 PM

Haven't managed to get a whole bunch done this weekend...but the good news is that I think we are ready for Bob The Painter!

Remember when I mentioned that the Imron goop was on THICK? I figured you would.

I touched the sides up on the oscillating drum sander and then block sanded them with 220.

It doesn't look like much.

But I'll mix up some more goop and put it on with a foam brush.

Then I'll do it again.

Well gosh-a-rooty...this is starting to look sort of like it is supposed to look!

I think it is ready for Bob the Painter...I don't know exactly what he has in mind, but he says we can paint this on it without too much trouble!

It could sure make life easier.

Maybe.

Buckocaster51 · July 10th, 2007, 01:54 AM

I took the thoroughly gooped-up Meloncaster body to Bob the Painter today.

He looked it over and agreed with my observation that it appeared to have enough goop on it.

So...during breaks in his action during the next couple of weeks, he is going to DA sand it smooth to get a nice sharp edge on it. Break that edge a smidgeon so it won't cut my arm...and then PAINT that binding and purfling on.

He 'plained exactly how he is going to do it.

It helps that the checkerboards are 1/8" inch long...and that the binding and solid purfling are both 1/16"...both dimensions of pinstriping tape that he has.

I think he'll pull it off.

If I had the tools (airbrush) and paint...and most importantly the talent...I would like to give it a try.

Updates to follow.

highwayone3tone · July 10th, 2007, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

I took the thoroughly gooped-up Meloncaster body to Bob the Painter today.

He looked it over and agreed with my observation that it appeared to have enough goop on it.

So...during breaks in his action during the next couple of weeks, he is going to DA sand it smooth to get a nice sharp edge on it. Break that edge a smidgeon so it won't cut my arm...and then PAINT that binding and purfling on.

He 'plained exactly how he is going to do it.

It helps that the checkerboards are 1/8" inch long...and that the binding and solid purfling are both 1/16"...both dimensions of pinstriping tape that he has.

I think he'll pull it off.

If I had the tools (airbrush) and paint...and most importantly the talent...I would like to give it a try.

Updates to follow.

This has been a cool thread to follow since I joined up, I can't wait to see the final result.

Hockey Rocker · July 12th, 2007, 10:13 PM

Wow! Great thread Bucko. What a project! I feel your pain. Here's my own Sparklecaster adventure in pictures, a '51 not a Tele.

Shot with Krylon primer and Krylon Metallic Silver:

Glittered it by shaking the sparkle on a wet coat of clear. Hit it with thirty more layers of clear. Let it sit like this for three months and buffed it out:

Put it back together:

It was an emotionally draining ordeal, that's for sure.

My advice to you would be to start over with different sparkle. The Sulyn stuff is PVC or Aluminum, heavy-gauge craft glitter like kids use in school. I'd go with the bass boat Polyflake instead. It is way thinner.

I'm tempted to do it again one year with a Tele. Not soon though. It's too much work! Good luck Buckocaster. Thanks for showing us your adventure.

Buckocaster51 · July 12th, 2007, 10:55 PM

Thanks for sharing!

I'm so far into this thing I am going to finish it...but the next one

I'll do differently...that's for sure.

That guitar looks like it sizzles.

Tell us more about this Polyflake stuff.

Hockey Rocker · July 12th, 2007, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

Thanks for sharing!

I'm so far into this thing I am going to finish it...but the next one

I'll do differently...that's for sure.

That guitar looks like it sizzles.

Tell us more about this Polyflake stuff.

I've noticed that the sparkles that my kids use from school or Wal-Mart is really thick. I've come to find out that it is made of PVC and/or aluminum and it is fairly inexpensive. It's much thicker than the glitter that comes in tiny jars in Michael's. That stuff is polyester. It says so on the back of the label. The problem is that the polyester stuff is really expensive and only available in tiny tubes. You would need a bunch of those little tubes to do a guitar.

If you search for Polyflake on Ebay you can land stuff that the boatmakers use. Sometimes you can find it in one pound bags like I did. I only used a couple of scoops. It worked well. I wanted the retro look anyway and it seemed like the same stuff. Ebay worked this time.

spankdplank · July 13th, 2007, 12:08 PM

After watching (and learning) from this thread, I decided to do a seafoam green sparklecaster. On the web I found www.paintwithpearl.com (no affilliation--not trying to sell anything). They sell .004 micron flakes that I mixed with Deft and shot through a Preval sprayer, with the filter tip taken off the Preval siphon straw so the flakes would go through. I was amazed at how well this worked and how evenly and easily the flakes layed down. One clear coat of Deft and the flake was completely buried to the touch--no Imron or beltsanding needed. .004 micron flakes sounds small, but the way these flakes are cut, they really reflect light well and they look huge in the clear coat. I finished all the clear coats last weekend and it is in the curing phase right now. I will try to post a picture. As always--Buckocaster, thanks for the great build threads and keep 'em coming.

Jellecaster · July 13th, 2007, 12:38 PM

spankdplank - that is awesome. I now know what my next build is going to be! PURPLE! (click)

This stuff, preval and a quart of Deft. It should be interesting.

JJ · July 13th, 2007, 02:11 PM

Here is my champagne Marty Bell sparkle...This guitar is nearly impossible to photograph. You cant take a photo that does the finish any justice. This guitar is a ton of different colors...Inside its champagne, in other lights it is all pink, sometimes it looks purple....outside & under stage lights its a total different animal.

Rizo · July 24th, 2007, 11:52 AM

So now that the Fiestacaster is all buttoned up, I expect this to come right along. Any news from Bob?

Buckocaster51 · July 27th, 2007, 01:13 PM

News From Bob!

The phone rings last night...

It's Bob the Painter. "Come on up and clear this bad boy tomorrow?!"

So this morninig, I went on up.

I've got to hit the road to play in BURLINGTON IOWA of all places tonight...but I will take time to post this one, tantalizing photo...

This thing has gone from sucking to NOT sucking!

The clear is on the body and neck.

I'll head back Monday to DA it and buff it out.

Maybe Monday night we can get it strung up and have FIRST TWANG!

riggergreg · July 27th, 2007, 01:16 PM

Oh My!!

daviddoubleu · July 27th, 2007, 01:22 PM

Now you're teasing us, Oh Monday, Monday!

Great stuff Buck, thanks for the sharing.

David.

BarnesTO · July 27th, 2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

News From Bob!

The phone rings last night...

It's Bob the Painter. "Come on up and clear this bad boy tomorrow?!"

So this morninig, I went on up.

I've got to hit the road to play in BURLINGTON IOWA of all places tonight...but I will take time to post this one, tantalizing photo...

This thing has gone from sucking to NOT sucking!

The clear is on the body and neck.

I'll head back Monday to DA it and buff it out.

Maybe Monday night we can get it strung up and have FIRST TWANG!

VERY nice....

JohnnyAtomic · July 27th, 2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

OH YEAH!

Telepatio · July 27th, 2007, 02:13 PM

something prince might play?!? :-)

highwayone3tone · July 27th, 2007, 02:30 PM

Finally, some movement on this guitar! Woohoo!

reddogbass · July 28th, 2007, 02:27 AM

Looks good Buck! Lotsa work though, huh. I've been away for a while due to moving, and taking a couple months to set up shop.

Next time you do sparkle, invest in spray equipment, and go to House of Kolor (houseofkolor.com). They have the products and advice you need. A little spendy, but way quick. Get some help on technique from Bob the Painter.

Be careful with the Imrons (or other two-part polys) of the world. A normal respirator ain't gonna save you. That's why the guys wear "scuba gear." Actually it's an outside air source.

I never did any metalflake in the old days cuz I hated metalflake cars. But the guys doing it were actually "rolling" the flakes flat after application to reduce the filling necessary.

Buckocaster51 · July 28th, 2007, 04:27 AM

Just got back from a 14 hour road trip and performance...376 miles according to Big Red's odometer.

I know you all want to see more pictures...but I am bushed!

Bob the Painter DID show me his stash of House of Kolor paints today. (I think the deer have been laying low, and Bob the Painter and Expert Deer Damage Fixer-Upper was having a slow day.) Lots of crazy stuff there.

Bob is starting to get a feel for what is cool on guitars...and I am starting to get a feel for what he can do.

I think the sky will be the limit!

Hopefully I will get a chance to post more pictures of the Field Trip to Bob's sometime tomorrow.

moo55 · July 28th, 2007, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spankdplank

After watching (and learning) from this thread, I decided to do a seafoam green sparklecaster. On the web I found www.paintwithpearl.com (no affilliation--not trying to sell anything). They sell .004 micron flakes that I mixed with Deft and shot through a Preval sprayer, with the filter tip taken off the Preval siphon straw so the flakes would go through. I was amazed at how well this worked and how evenly and easily the flakes layed down. One clear coat of Deft and the flake was completely buried to the touch--no Imron or beltsanding needed. .004 micron flakes sounds small, but the way these flakes are cut, they really reflect light well and they look huge in the clear coat. I finished all the clear coats last weekend and it is in the curing phase right now. I will try to post a picture. As always--Buckocaster, thanks for the great build threads and keep 'em coming.

Great stuff gentlemen!!
I am curious when you mixed the flakes with the Deft, did it tint the clear in any way. i have visited this site and from the photos of the cars thought it would be the way to go.
I am slowly accumulating spray equipment, i just need a compressor and order the supplies from "paint with pearl".
These threads are better than TV!!

spankdplank · July 29th, 2007, 03:16 AM

Moo55--no need for a compressor, use a Preval sprayer from an auto parts store or Ace hardware for $5 and just take off the filter tip. Works great. The flakes retain their color and it does not bleed into the clear coat at all. I have some flakes that have been sitting in a jar of Deft for three weeks and the color has not changed.

Westerly Sunn · July 29th, 2007, 05:05 AM

I was browsing around...
and saw this at Woodcraft: http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=5853
As soon as I saw the Price... You were the 1st thing that entered my mind...
It was $99.00.

Westerly Sunn · July 29th, 2007, 07:59 AM

Still browsing... LOL! I'm in the computer room at work doing the weekend babysitting thing... gotta lot 'o free time...
Anyways... Not knowin' nuttin' about Spray equipment... I found this Manufacturers' website to be most informative:
http://www.hvlp.com/index.php
Thought maybe others would enjoy also...

also look here: http://www.mcfeelys.com/tech/apollo.asp

Ronkirn · July 29th, 2007, 09:48 AM

a hundred dollar HVLP spray rig... Humm..... I would say, don't buy toys to build a real guitar... : )~

Really, the cheep tools tend to last about long enough to get ya through 1 and 1/2 projects....leaving ya hanging.... for a hundred bux you can buy a good used compressor... and fix it up..... mine's 35 years old now...

and for about 15 bux, you can buy a really good spray gun from Harbor Freight... it's not Low Pressure....but it'll get ya where ya wanna go.

but if ya just gotta have a HLVP, Harbor Freight has the same one Woodcraft has for 89 bux...

Ron Kirn

July 3rd, 2007, 04:19 AM	#161 (permalink)
eddiewagner Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ROCK!linghausen/germany Age: 50 Posts: 5,101 27 Photos	you guys are crazy!!!! __________________ My Drum/Guitar-Duo: www.myspace.com/captaintwangandhisrhythmcat

July 3rd, 2007, 03:20 PM	#163 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 57 Posts: 8,401 1 Photos	The "dust box" worked just fine yesterday. The clear on the back looks fantastic and is dust free. The front is not quite so good. Like I mentioned it has some pretty good sized goobers on it. It MAY have to all come off and be done again. But before I do that I am going to try to knock down some of the high spots and recoat it. First we will attack it with 220 grit paper. Put it on. Take it off. But kids...it is coming off too slowly! Let's try a different track. How about some 60 grit on the palm sander! That Imron is TOUGH stuff. But then I guess it is supposed to be. Look at those HIGH SPOTS come off! I'll work up through the grits...60, 100, 220, 400. __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

July 3rd, 2007, 03:30 PM	#164 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 57 Posts: 8,401 1 Photos	It actually looks pretty decent. I wiped it down with lacquer thinner to get an idea what it will look like after the next coat of Imron, and it looks pretty good. EXCEPT! bootliquor.com played something by Folk Uke that got me laughing, and I lost concentratioin for JUST A SECOND! and IT happened! ARGH! Me Mates! But! If I am as good at this stuff as I sometimes think I am...I SHOULD be able to make it go away. (Or not!) Besides, most of it will be under the binding/purfling that we are going to paint on. First let's mask it off. Hit it with some watermelon paint. Then sprinkle some new glitter. I'll let it dry for a bit and hit it with some DEFT. Let that dry and then proceed with the Imron. Only time will tell if I get away with it. Argh! Film at 11:00! __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

July 3rd, 2007, 03:40 PM	#165 (permalink)
aznrambo481 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla, California Age: 18 Posts: 2,902 6 Photos	so how heavy is the body now? __________________ Check out my bands, and feel free to PM me comments on them! The Eclectics (guitar/vocals) SLIP (bass)

July 3rd, 2007, 03:46 PM	#166 (permalink)
Steve G Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: LeeK (England) Age: 33 Posts: 2,451 64 Photos	This is a great thread. An epic tale of one man and his creative vision. __________________ "He was a drinkin' man with a guitar problem..." http://www.myspace.com/stevegiddings http://www.myspace.com/hiandlonesome

July 3rd, 2007, 07:06 PM	#168 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 57 Posts: 8,401 1 Photos	I'm just back from a trip up the road where I scored a handful of NOS 600V 047 uF caps for these current projects...but more on that later. The KRYLON and DEFT have been deemed to have had sufficient time to dry in the booboo zone... This what the repair looks like. I think it will be okay when the Imron goes on. (Speaking of Imron...after several years of supporting Macintosh computers at work...and all of those iPrograms...do you know hard it is to actually capitalize the first "I" in a name? The whole thing looks like a mess. There is much work to do to the sides. I won't be at all surprised if the side stuff alll comes off. But I have crossed a hump in the learning curve and I don't think it will cost me but a couple of days. The top looks very decent when I wipe it down with acetone. It actually looks like this... with what MIGHT be the last coat of Imron on the top. It is sort of "arriving" at where-ever it is going. If you know what I mean. __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

July 3rd, 2007, 08:01 PM	#169 (permalink)
Wally Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 6,010	there is a reason why a pro 'flake finish is worth $350 and up. IT is labor intensive, it requires pro spray equipment and technique, and it is messy. Did I say it was messy? G&L doesn't do flake anymore because of the contamination of the finish environment....the flake gets everywhere and will show up in non-flake finishes done later. Example: A friend was telling me a couple of weeks ago about getting in trouble after being dragged to a strip club by his wife's brother's for a bachelor's party. AS he told me the story and while I was working on his new PRS, I couldn't help but notice one green sparkle on the bridge of his nose. I finally had to inform him that it was no wonder he got in trouble because he still had evidence on his nose. He couldn't believe that some sparkle from the lap dance was still in his eenvironment. The party had been a week before. Fellow TDPRI member Jeff James dropped his latest acquisition off today for a bone nut and set-up. This guitar was 'flaked by the man who did G&L's flake finish. It is a beauty...and pink. The second shot of the gold 'flake is one that I did about 10 years ago for Lloyd Maines. The flake is multi-colored. From different angles, the flake yields different 'spot' colors. This shot yields mostly golds. Other angles shows blues, greens, reds...it has seen stages in Las Vegas and all across Texas. Robert Earl Keene liked to use this dazzler when Lloyd owned the guitar. Forgive the quality of the pic...it is a picture of a picture.

July 3rd, 2007, 08:16 PM	#170 (permalink)
urizen Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SoCal Posts: 426	Honest to God, this is just such a nice thread to experience (it goes WAY beyond just a read)---it ramblesmeanderswandersdigresses into such pleasant pastures....it's almost like a kind of communion (if that doesn't sound too sappy). I really look forward to each new installment of the project and the sharing from the "congregation". Very cool, Buckocaster51.

July 3rd, 2007, 08:37 PM	#172 (permalink)
Wally Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 6,010	You're working hard, Buck. IME, sanding is about the last thing you want to do with flake. If you sand the flake, it will show after the final clears are on. The sanding dulls the sparkle. It is a difficult thing to get the clear thick enough to prevent sanding through while leveling. That is why spraying the flake is advisable. It lies down better than when 'sprinkled'. I do commend your work ethic and curiosity. Good luck with painting on some 'binding'.

July 6th, 2007, 07:45 PM	#173 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 57 Posts: 8,401 1 Photos	I hear you Wally. Thanks for sharing your expertise. But...(and you knew this was coming )...I'm ploughing ahead...figuring the worse-case-scenario is that it will all have to come off. I have that goop on SO thick that I am hitting VERY few pieces of flake. (Or at least I think I am hitting very few pieces.) As you will see, I am getting brave, and being pretty aggresive about getting the goopiest of the goop off. Something else I have noticed is that somewhere in the process, the "purple" is coming off of the flake and it is turning silver. It's stuff that is buried WAY deep as well as stuff near the surface. In fact, it seems to be ALL of the flake. I'm guessing that it has something to do with the DEFT that sealed everything with. I bet the lacquer thinner is just stripping the color right off. We'll have to do a little test later to see if that is the case. So here is what has happened today. The sides, especially the bottom near the strap pin, has accumulated LOTS of goop. I'm going to try to take most of it off with the oscillating drum sander...carefully, carefully, carefully. Very slowly. But if I sand through...so be it. I can redo it...and maybe do it better the next time. No sand throughs yet! The stuff is REALLY thick. Hip hip horray! I made it around with no sand throughs! Here you can maybe get an idea of how thick this stuff really is. I'm pointing to a depression that didn't get sanded... The goop is real thick there yet. Really thick! The blue tape is my attempt to protect the bottom of the guitar from the table-top. But I don't think you could hurt that Imron with a 5-iron. It seems pretty tough. I have to go play in a roadhouse tonight. Unfortunately I'll probably have to stare at scantilly-clad young women instead of working on the Meloncaster...but tomorrow is another day! Oh!...I have my TDPRI "Some Assembly Required" shirt. Do you? __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

July 8th, 2007, 10:20 PM	#177 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 57 Posts: 8,401 1 Photos	Haven't managed to get a whole bunch done this weekend...but the good news is that I think we are ready for Bob The Painter! Remember when I mentioned that the Imron goop was on THICK? I figured you would. I touched the sides up on the oscillating drum sander and then block sanded them with 220. It doesn't look like much. But I'll mix up some more goop and put it on with a foam brush. Then I'll do it again. Well gosh-a-rooty...this is starting to look sort of like it is supposed to look! I think it is ready for Bob the Painter...I don't know exactly what he has in mind, but he says we can paint this on it without too much trouble! It could sure make life easier. Maybe. __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

July 10th, 2007, 01:54 AM	#178 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 57 Posts: 8,401 1 Photos	I took the thoroughly gooped-up Meloncaster body to Bob the Painter today. He looked it over and agreed with my observation that it appeared to have enough goop on it. So...during breaks in his action during the next couple of weeks, he is going to DA sand it smooth to get a nice sharp edge on it. Break that edge a smidgeon so it won't cut my arm...and then PAINT that binding and purfling on. He 'plained exactly how he is going to do it. It helps that the checkerboards are 1/8" inch long...and that the binding and solid purfling are both 1/16"...both dimensions of pinstriping tape that he has. I think he'll pull it off. If I had the tools (airbrush) and paint...and most importantly the talent...I would like to give it a try. Updates to follow. __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

July 12th, 2007, 10:13 PM	#180 (permalink)
Hockey Rocker Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Gone Age: 47 Posts: 1,180	Wow! Great thread Bucko. What a project! I feel your pain. Here's my own Sparklecaster adventure in pictures, a '51 not a Tele. Shot with Krylon primer and Krylon Metallic Silver: Glittered it by shaking the sparkle on a wet coat of clear. Hit it with thirty more layers of clear. Let it sit like this for three months and buffed it out: Put it back together: It was an emotionally draining ordeal, that's for sure. My advice to you would be to start over with different sparkle. The Sulyn stuff is PVC or Aluminum, heavy-gauge craft glitter like kids use in school. I'd go with the bass boat Polyflake instead. It is way thinner. I'm tempted to do it again one year with a Tele. Not soon though. It's too much work! Good luck Buckocaster. Thanks for showing us your adventure.

July 12th, 2007, 10:55 PM	#181 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 57 Posts: 8,401 1 Photos	Thanks for sharing! I'm so far into this thing I am going to finish it...but the next one I'll do differently...that's for sure. That guitar looks like it sizzles. Tell us more about this Polyflake stuff. __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

July 13th, 2007, 12:08 PM	#183 (permalink)
spankdplank Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 1,022 28 Photos	After watching (and learning) from this thread, I decided to do a seafoam green sparklecaster. On the web I found www.paintwithpearl.com (no affilliation--not trying to sell anything). They sell .004 micron flakes that I mixed with Deft and shot through a Preval sprayer, with the filter tip taken off the Preval siphon straw so the flakes would go through. I was amazed at how well this worked and how evenly and easily the flakes layed down. One clear coat of Deft and the flake was completely buried to the touch--no Imron or beltsanding needed. .004 micron flakes sounds small, but the way these flakes are cut, they really reflect light well and they look huge in the clear coat. I finished all the clear coats last weekend and it is in the curing phase right now. I will try to post a picture. As always--Buckocaster, thanks for the great build threads and keep 'em coming.

July 13th, 2007, 12:38 PM	#184 (permalink)
Jellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Hampshire, USA Age: 41 Posts: 2,422	spankdplank - that is awesome. I now know what my next build is going to be! PURPLE! (click) This stuff, preval and a quart of Deft. It should be interesting.

July 24th, 2007, 11:52 AM	#186 (permalink)
Rizo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Athens, OH Posts: 1,150	So now that the Fiestacaster is all buttoned up, I expect this to come right along. Any news from Bob? __________________ "You say you want to play country, but you're in a punk rock band."

July 27th, 2007, 01:13 PM	#187 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 57 Posts: 8,401 1 Photos	News From Bob! The phone rings last night... It's Bob the Painter. "Come on up and clear this bad boy tomorrow?!" So this morninig, I went on up. I've got to hit the road to play in BURLINGTON IOWA of all places tonight...but I will take time to post this one, tantalizing photo... This thing has gone from sucking to NOT sucking! The clear is on the body and neck. I'll head back Monday to DA it and buff it out. Maybe Monday night we can get it strung up and have FIRST TWANG! __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

July 27th, 2007, 01:16 PM	#188 (permalink)
riggergreg Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Back in Texas, Again Age: 52 Posts: 1,086 29 Photos	Oh My!! __________________ Another year older and deeper in debt

July 27th, 2007, 01:22 PM	#189 (permalink)
daviddoubleu Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 589 7 Photos	Now you're teasing us, Oh Monday, Monday! Great stuff Buck, thanks for the sharing. David.

July 27th, 2007, 02:13 PM	#192 (permalink)
Telepatio Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 466	something prince might play?!? :-) __________________ Isn't life a series of images that change as they repeat themselves? - AW

July 27th, 2007, 02:30 PM	#193 (permalink)
highwayone3tone Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stuart FL Age: 30 Posts: 227 7 Photos	Finally, some movement on this guitar! Woohoo!

July 28th, 2007, 02:27 AM	#194 (permalink)
reddogbass Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 63 Posts: 608 5 Photos	Looks good Buck! Lotsa work though, huh. I've been away for a while due to moving, and taking a couple months to set up shop. Next time you do sparkle, invest in spray equipment, and go to House of Kolor (houseofkolor.com). They have the products and advice you need. A little spendy, but way quick. Get some help on technique from Bob the Painter. Be careful with the Imrons (or other two-part polys) of the world. A normal respirator ain't gonna save you. That's why the guys wear "scuba gear." Actually it's an outside air source. I never did any metalflake in the old days cuz I hated metalflake cars. But the guys doing it were actually "rolling" the flakes flat after application to reduce the filling necessary.

July 28th, 2007, 04:27 AM	#195 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 57 Posts: 8,401 1 Photos	Just got back from a 14 hour road trip and performance...376 miles according to Big Red's odometer. I know you all want to see more pictures...but I am bushed! Bob the Painter DID show me his stash of House of Kolor paints today. (I think the deer have been laying low, and Bob the Painter and Expert Deer Damage Fixer-Upper was having a slow day.) Lots of crazy stuff there. Bob is starting to get a feel for what is cool on guitars...and I am starting to get a feel for what he can do. I think the sky will be the limit! Hopefully I will get a chance to post more pictures of the Field Trip to Bob's sometime tomorrow. __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

July 29th, 2007, 03:16 AM	#197 (permalink)
spankdplank Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 1,022 28 Photos	Moo55--no need for a compressor, use a Preval sprayer from an auto parts store or Ace hardware for $5 and just take off the filter tip. Works great. The flakes retain their color and it does not bleed into the clear coat at all. I have some flakes that have been sitting in a jar of Deft for three weeks and the color has not changed.

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July 29th, 2007, 05:05 AM	#198 (permalink)
Westerly Sunn Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: S.E. North Carolina Posts: 1,704 46 Photos	Hey Buckocaster... It just struck me funny... I was browsing around... and saw this at Woodcraft: http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=5853 As soon as I saw the Price... You were the 1st thing that entered my mind... It was $99.00.

July 29th, 2007, 07:59 AM	#199 (permalink)
Westerly Sunn Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: S.E. North Carolina Posts: 1,704 46 Photos	By the by... Still browsing... LOL! I'm in the computer room at work doing the weekend babysitting thing... gotta lot 'o free time... Anyways... Not knowin' nuttin' about Spray equipment... I found this Manufacturers' website to be most informative: http://www.hvlp.com/index.php Thought maybe others would enjoy also... also look here: http://www.mcfeelys.com/tech/apollo.asp Last edited by Westerly Sunn; July 29th, 2007 at 08:53 AM.

July 29th, 2007, 09:48 AM	#200 (permalink)
Ronkirn VENDOR Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Age: 63 Posts: 3,923	a hundred dollar HVLP spray rig... Humm..... I would say, don't buy toys to build a real guitar... : )~ Really, the cheep tools tend to last about long enough to get ya through 1 and 1/2 projects....leaving ya hanging.... for a hundred bux you can buy a good used compressor... and fix it up..... mine's 35 years old now... and for about 15 bux, you can buy a really good spray gun from Harbor Freight... it's not Low Pressure....but it'll get ya where ya wanna go. but if ya just gotta have a HLVP, Harbor Freight has the same one Woodcraft has for 89 bux... Ron Kirn __________________ www.ronkirn.com