The Emeraldcaster Project (aka Son of Meloncaster)

[Buckocaster51]

Here is the 3rd Champagnecaster.



I figured that if I was final polishing one...I might as well do the other.

This one will go together this week.

And then the Tale of the Champagnecasters will be over!

But don't worry, I still have a whole box of sparkles and four (4) bodies and 3 blanks in the garage.

Plus there is that strange green guitar that needs finishing.

I just got an email from Miss Becky saying she has shipped me some pickups. With luck, that bad boy will go together this week as well.

And now you know!

[Buckocaster51]

We're starting to gather up some "long lead" items for a couple of projects that are coming up that are going to be way outside of the box.

The color of flake is up for grabs. Time to make a test card.



I've painted half of a piece of 80 card stock with some of that vintage KRYLON Gloss Black.

Then I spray on a REAL THICK COAT of DEFT and sprinkle some sparkles on it from a little sieve.



Shake the extra off and goop on some more DEFT.

No I can see what it looks like against both WHITE and BLACK backgrounds.

Kelly, the neighbor girl that keeps track of my sparkle guitars for me likes 44P.

It looks like a bright shiny penny.

My mind is still out. (Gee, what a surprise! Might have to do one of each!)

And now you know.

[robt57]

Yummy Copper!!!!!!!!

[Buckocaster51]

I take it you are on Kelly's side on this.

Copper 2
Pink 0
IDK 1

[Old Guy]

I'm not certain that this is open to vote, but if it is mine is copper.

[robt57]

The clear fell off...

It desperately needs some sparkly copper thin skin grafts!!!

[Buckocaster51]

Originally Posted by Old Guy

I'm not certain that this is open to vote, but if it is mine is copper.

That would make it

Copper 3
Pink (salmon) 0
IDK 1

I see a trend developing.

[axmaker]

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

We're starting to gather up some "long lead" items for a couple of projects that are coming up that are going to be way outside of the box.

The color of flake is up for grabs. Time to make a test card.



I've painted half of a piece of 80 card stock with some of that vintage KRYLON Gloss Black.

Then I spray on a REAL THICK COAT of DEFT and sprinkle some sparkles on it from a little sieve.



Shake the extra off and goop on some more DEFT.

No I can see what it looks like against both WHITE and BLACK backgrounds.

Kelly, the neighbor girl that keeps track of my sparkle guitars for me likes 44P.

It looks like a bright shiny penny.

My mind is still out. (Gee, what a surprise! Might have to do one of each!)

And now you know.

i know i said 44p in the email, but now i see them on the card, i'm thinkin' 27p.

[Buckocaster51]

We'll just make that

Copper 44p 3
Salmon 27p 1
IDK 1

Those are certainly handsome guitars.

Funny pickups though!

Talent levers? Come on! Get real!

I have a Jag and Jazzmaster, but I've never had the "courage" to take them to a job.

They just don't seem to fit in with the type of music we play.

[SatelliteOrders]

I'll vote copper, but I'm sure it'll be danged pretty either way.

[Buckocaster51]

These returns just in:

Copper 44p - 4
Salmon 27p - 1
IDK - 1

[RichardWitt]

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

These returns just in:

Copper 44p - 4
Salmon 27p - 1
IDK - 1

Definately copper Buck, definately copper!

[Scott McCray]

Copper - the salmon is pretty, but the copper is gorgeous...

[riggergreg]

You'll probably end up doing at least one of each, right?

I like the copper

[Buckocaster51]

Originally Posted by riggergreg

You'll probably end up doing at least one of each, right?

I like the copper

I like the way you think!

Copper 44p - 7
Salmon 27p - 1
IDK - 1

[Crawfish]

Count me in for copper.

[TWANGNUT]

Definetly Copper.... coppercaster sounds ALOT cooler than Salmoncaster...

[Southern Ill]

Copper would be my choice.....

[cpeters01]

I know that pink/salmon is the new beige....or something like that?!?

But I would definitely like to see the copper one first. You are amazing!!

[Jake D]

Have you ever tried mixing two colors of sparkle? That copper color with some of the salmon mixed in for good measure. I figure since you have card stock anyway. . .

[BadHorsie]

Copper

[Buckocaster51]

Okay, I think this is where it stands...

Copper 44p - 11
Salmon 27p - 1
IDK - 2

You are correct Cpeters...Pink is the new beige.


I do have to tell you, that vote for 27p is from California, and we all know how many delegates they have!

[Buckocaster51]

It is another beautiful day here in NE Iowa. I am going to try to be productive.

A list lurker has clued me in on a product that will make the flaking process go better and faster. I only bought two (2) quarts of it, so it didn't violate my $100 rule. But more on that later.

I think I may have mentioned that I have three checkerboard bodies to put silver sparkles on. They have all received multiple coats of DEFT sanding sealer.

Here is one after it has been sanded with 600 paper and taped off.



30 minutes right on the nose to tape it.

With this silver flake I am going to use a black base.

Krylon may not work for that these days, but car parts places sell this stuff.



In just about any color you would want.



I'm going to have to paint one black, and leave it black someday.



White binding with the checkerboards on a black body would make Darth Vader one happy intergalactic villan.

If you know what I mean.

[SatelliteOrders]

Ever thought about black sparkles?

[Buckocaster51]

Originally Posted by SatelliteOrders

Ever thought about black sparkles?

Yup.

They might work on this.




Eh?

But 'tis not to be. This one has to turn silver directly.

[SatelliteOrders]

That black&checkerboard body is great as is, you know.

And I think your past pics have shown that you can put sparkles on any color body and you could never tell what color it was.

[Buckocaster51]

Originally Posted by SatelliteOrders

And I think your past pics have shown that you can put sparkles on any color body and you could never tell what color it was.

You'd be surprised. There is a lot of that base color that "leaks" through little gaps and spaces in the flake.

I'll try to get an extreme closeup of this when it is done so we can see it.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

While I am contemplating drilling some holes in a neck that I thought was COMPLETELY FINISHED I am going to smear some grain filler on an ash body.



The product that I am using is from Luthiers Mercantile International.

It is some sort of pinkish-orange goop made up primarily of what are probably glass micro-spheres. It is water based.



I'm just going to put it on pretty thick.

Being sure to push it into the grain.

Let it dry.

Sand it with 220.

That's what I have done before and it seems to work.

This looks interesting. I've got to try it, this Pore O Pac takes too long.

[Buckocaster51]

Like I said, I think it works okay.

I'm sure my technique could be improved upon.

For instance, it could easily be stained to match the wood. Assuming that you're not using orange wood.

It might actually come in colors. I've had this jar for several years.

[Buckocaster51]

The non-two-part goop I am going to use to put the flake on (more on this later) is not lacquer based.

I'm guessing it will stick to the basecoat mechanically rather than chemically. So that nice gloss black gets scuffed up with the 3M green pad.



If you look closely, you will notice that the immaculate clean-room conditions at DiWiDi Enterprises have only allowed a "few" sparkles to get into the black.

That stuff get everywhere.

I'll be using an automotive product that the car painters call "blend." It is a non-catalytic clear that should float the flake and build fairly quickly.

Because I have never used it, nor have I seen anybody use it, I am only go to shoot the back the first time around. My guess is that as my learning curve climbs STEEPLY upward, I will get to the point where I can shoot the entire body at once.



Since this is new to me, and most of you, I am probably going to take a few photos.


He he he he!

[Buckocaster51]

Here is what I am using.



It says something about "for professional use only"...

Nothing like an adventure.

But first I have to go move some dust in the "paint booth"

[Spunky99]

Hey Bucko....

MSDS...Warning Will Robinson...Danger...Danger...



So you might want to wear this.....



Or at least this...

[Buckocaster51]

Thank you Spunky. I think I have it (and me) covered.

I'll get a wide-angle lens someday and take a picture of the EPA Bunny for you.

[Buckocaster51]

Rather than balance the body on a copy of quart cans whilst it is sprayed, I am going to try some drywall screws.



these cheap, and fairly disposable, spray guns seem to work.



The shears are an artifact of some time I spent building tractor tires many years ago. Spunky, you want to see some "nasty" stuff, back in those days a tire factory was filled with them.



and they come with a 2.0mm tip which seems to work for that flake.

Speaking of flake.



They call it "Chrome Silver" and they ain't just whistlin' Dixie.

[Buckocaster51]

So we begin



Here it is after about three coats.



The blender is still sticky, and we are going to give it the last treatment.



A spoonful of flake and a little sieve will put some flake on at wild angles.

So it looks like this.



I covered it with another coat of blender.

And I bet it is dry already.

I might like this stuff!

The plan is to get it all flaked tonight so that I can clear it tomorrow.

It should be fun!

[Flannel Pat]

I'd love to have an Esquire with a clown barf top on it.

[Buckocaster51]

Originally Posted by Flannel Pat

I'd love to have an Esquire with a clown barf top on it.

That's two of us!

Do you speak Mandarin?

Communicating with the company seems to be an issue right now.

[Spunky99]

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

That's two of us!

Do you speak Mandarin?

Communicating with the company seems to be an issue right now.

My wife speaks Mandarin and has been in the USA for 7 months from mainland China.
Any way we can help, just ask.
I also have a calling card for China at I think 1.8 cents per minute so don't worry about the call.

John

[Tommy Tourbus]

Originally Posted by Spunky99

My wife has been in the USA for 7 months from mainland China.

pics or it didn't happen

[milkshape]

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

Yup.

They might work on this.

My wife (the bass player) just got a big smile when I showed her the black with the checker board, I may get to make another tele! As soon as I finish the strats!

27P be bold be different!