Easiest Possible Finish

Ten Brooks · February 5th, 2008, 01:52 PM

I put together a partscaster in November and couldn't wait to finish it. I had wanted to send it to RS Guitars for a nitro finish, but they said 10-12 week wait. This is my only guitar now.
My question is what is the simplest, easiest finish I can put on it? I want to do it in white or very pale yellow in a solid color. It is a one piece ash body, not filled grain yet etc. BTW it sounds good it has a Bill Bores PW long throw b bender, and Don Mare pups. I want to keep the finish thin.

wilkat1 · February 5th, 2008, 01:57 PM

Wipe-on Poly is the easiest possible finish. It's dead simple and ready to play in a couple of days. But not for a solid color.

I would think that primer and automotive spray paint with clear coat would be the simple way to go, though it's best to let it cure a bit.

eryque · February 5th, 2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilkat1

Wipe-on Poly is the easiest possible finish. It's dead simple and ready to play in a couple of days. But not for a solid color.

I would think that primer and automotive spray paint with clear coat would be the simple way to go, though it's best to let it cure a bit.

What he said. You're gonna have to fill the grain to get it level and glossy. By the time you do the grain filling, prime, color, clear coats, then sand and polish, you're still looking at a month. If you go for wipe on poly you can have it done in a weekend.

Tedecaster · February 5th, 2008, 03:49 PM

I just finished this up in a hurry & I'm pretty happy with the finish. It's wipe-on poly with a color wash underneath.

Here's a link to the other thread (post #6) for my quickie method

Colin Johnston · February 5th, 2008, 05:42 PM

aww... pity you want a solid colour or I'd recommend the wax finish I used.

wilkat1 · February 5th, 2008, 05:45 PM

Ooooh, I like Tedecaster's guitar!

martino · February 5th, 2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tedecaster

I just finished this up in a hurry & I'm pretty happy with the finish. It's wipe-on poly with a color wash underneath.

Here's a link to the other thread (post #6) for my quickie method

this is from your other thread via the link

" The finish is pretty straight forward:

I sealed the raw wood with 2 coats of Zinsser spray-can shellac. Then 2 coats (brushed on, waited 10 mins, then wiped off) of a wash coat of white, made out of some house-brand flat white enamel & thinner (50/50 approx.) Sealed that with the spray shellac & then 3 or 4 coats of the Minwax wipe-on poly. I lightly sanded after each shellac coat & after the second coat of white.

No spray equipment & just a foam brush for the white wash. I found the gloss wipe-on poly worked better & I didn't find it overly shiny.

You could start a body one day & finish it the next if you wanted to. "

Realy nice work Tedecaster !
I just wanted to add with ash you may try EVERCOAT Z-GRIP LITE WEIGHT BODY FILLER

by thinning down the auto body filler AKA bondo with a little lacquer thinner
you speed up the dry and cure time of the filler.

to avoid loads of sanding use Cabinet Scraper after the filler gets a crust
on it.

if you can print a photo of the color at least 2 inch X 2 inch most paint
stores shood be able to get you a close match.
most stores have rustoleum PROTECTIVE ENAMEL
enamel & thinner (50/50 approx.) just like Tedecaster did ! ! !

I bet you can do it in a weekend because of the ash.

Good luck . . .

ramblinmike · February 5th, 2008, 07:57 PM

probably a few coats of wipe on poly. If you want it a transparent color, it works real well with dyes too. If you keep it thin it will have a very natural feel to it. especially if you don't fill the grain

jimd · February 5th, 2008, 11:11 PM

Wow Tedecaster, I missed your original thread. That's a sweet guitar.

Did you sand and polish the finish or did you just leave the wipe-on poly "as is"?

Tedecaster · February 6th, 2008, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimd

Wow Tedecaster, I missed your original thread. That's a sweet guitar.

Did you sand and polish the finish or did you just leave the wipe-on poly "as is"?

I left it as is.

I had it pretty smooth after I sealed the color wash with shellac. The wipe-on poly goes on pretty thin & smooth, then dries quickly so there isn't too much time to get any dust, etc. stuck in it.

fivenote · February 6th, 2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

a solid color. It is a one piece ash body

Solid color ove a one-piece ash? Think about that one. Ash is usually picked specifically for transparent finish because the grain is so nice, and one-piece is a bonus - no join lines.

Consider what tedecaster and the others are saying about the wipe-on poly. Very easy. If you want a pale yellow, use a thinned white with maybe a few drops of yellow pigment. You'll get the late 50's blonde look with the pretty grain showing through. I did something similar using sprayed-on lacquer. It took me almost 2 years because of my busy schedule and the need to find solid hours of time to setup, spray and cleanup. It turned out good, but if I had to do it again I think I'd get similar results with wipe on color and poly clear coats.

See www.frettech.com (info link). Rob documents the wipe-on poly process pretty well.

Tedecaster · February 6th, 2008, 09:28 AM

Mine is pine & there is more grain showing through than you can see in the pics but I think that with a nice ash body, I would go a little more transparent with the color.

Stoked · February 9th, 2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin Johnston

aww... pity you want a solid colour or I'd recommend the wax finish I used.

What was the wax finish you used? That tele looks amazing!

Colin Johnston · February 9th, 2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoked

What was the wax finish you used? That tele looks amazing!

Thanks! Here's a thread all about it...

CLICK ME!

Ed Bickert · February 9th, 2008, 05:29 PM

In the end, if you're just trying to protect the finish, any wood finish will work. Butcher's Wax will work just fine too. And Tung Oil is also another great alternative (for a natural finish).

February 5th, 2008, 01:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ten Brooks TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Eastern KY Age: 36 Posts: 81	Easiest Possible Finish I put together a partscaster in November and couldn't wait to finish it. I had wanted to send it to RS Guitars for a nitro finish, but they said 10-12 week wait. This is my only guitar now. My question is what is the simplest, easiest finish I can put on it? I want to do it in white or very pale yellow in a solid color. It is a one piece ash body, not filled grain yet etc. BTW it sounds good it has a Bill Bores PW long throw b bender, and Don Mare pups. I want to keep the finish thin. __________________ ...I danced holes in my shoes. There weren't another other way to be... by Billy Joe Shaver

February 5th, 2008, 01:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
wilkat1 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So. Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 1,554 20 Photos	Wipe-on Poly is the easiest possible finish. It's dead simple and ready to play in a couple of days. But not for a solid color. I would think that primer and automotive spray paint with clear coat would be the simple way to go, though it's best to let it cure a bit. __________________ MySpace "That number don't mean nothing to me if the guitar don't sound right." - Buddy Guy on the year a guitar was manufactured.

February 5th, 2008, 05:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Colin Johnston Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: County Antrim, Northern Ireland Age: 37 Posts: 618	aww... pity you want a solid colour or I'd recommend the wax finish I used. __________________ "on the trail of the lonesome pine... caster"

February 5th, 2008, 05:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
wilkat1 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So. Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 1,554 20 Photos	Ooooh, I like Tedecaster's guitar! __________________ MySpace "That number don't mean nothing to me if the guitar don't sound right." - Buddy Guy on the year a guitar was manufactured.

February 9th, 2008, 05:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ed Bickert Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cape Cod, MA Age: 40 Posts: 946	In the end, if you're just trying to protect the finish, any wood finish will work. Butcher's Wax will work just fine too. And Tung Oil is also another great alternative (for a natural finish). __________________ Sorry, not the real Ed Bickert. Just a fan.

February 5th, 2008, 03:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tedecaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greensboro, Vermont Posts: 1,018 26 Photos	I just finished this up in a hurry & I'm pretty happy with the finish. It's wipe-on poly with a color wash underneath. Here's a link to the other thread (post #6) for my quickie method

February 5th, 2008, 07:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
ramblinmike Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Long Island NY Age: 23 Posts: 924	probably a few coats of wipe on poly. If you want it a transparent color, it works real well with dyes too. If you keep it thin it will have a very natural feel to it. especially if you don't fill the grain

February 5th, 2008, 11:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
jimd Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Age: 42 Posts: 566	Wow Tedecaster, I missed your original thread. That's a sweet guitar. Did you sand and polish the finish or did you just leave the wipe-on poly "as is"?

February 6th, 2008, 09:28 AM	#12 (permalink)
Tedecaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greensboro, Vermont Posts: 1,018 26 Photos	Mine is pine & there is more grain showing through than you can see in the pics but I think that with a nice ash body, I would go a little more transparent with the color.