Fuschia SparkleCaster build Thread, inspired by Buckocaster

[Spunky99]

So far I've used up 4 cans of Deft and will probably need at least 6 more.
I bought a quart of the same Deft lacquer to use with my spray unit.

Yhe headstock should be finished in\\within the next 2 days.

John

[Buckocaster51]

What an adventure, eh?

One of the things that people told me, that I didn't really pay attention to until I "rediscovered" it on my own, is that really thick layers of lacquer, the kind that we are making with these sparklefinish guitars, will chip if you look at it sideways.

When opening up holes with a drill or reamer, I have been trying to run the things in reverse to try to minimize the chances of chipage.

Your project looks really good.

[Spunky99]

One of the things that people told me, that I didn't really pay attention to until I "rediscovered" it on my own, is that really thick layers of lacquer, the kind that we are making with these sparklefinish guitars, will chip if you look at it sideways.

When opening up holes with a drill or reamer, I have been trying to run the things in reverse to try to minimize the chances of chipage.

Thanks for the advice Buck.
I always read your installments in the emeraldcaster thread. Every little hint sure helps to keep me out of trouble. I go home for lunch as it's 10 minutes away and since I have Deft, I hit it with a coat in the morning at 6:30 AM before work and again at lunch at 11:40 AM just to get as many coats as possible in a day.
I'm definately going to use the reverse spin trick with the drill to clean up the string holes etc. I'll also use my dremel to clean the tuner key holes in the neck.

One thing about a sparklecaster once the lacquer gets thick and smooth is when you look at it in the sun, it looks alive when you move it. Kinda like the little shiny things on the back of a Sparkletts water truck. It just shimmers with life and everyone who sees it goes "ooohhh and ahhhhhhh and wowww".

Gotta love that stripper dust everywhere...and it did come into work as well.

[Spunky99]

I took some more headstock photos.
The angle of the view changes as I took 4 pictures from different angles.
At some angles, it looks red. Maybe the base coat of Chinese Red is influencing the color.






Only allowed 4 per post

[Spunky99]

A red one......

[Buckocaster51]

You're sick.

Just sick.

and that's a good thing!

[milkshape]

Originally Posted by Spunky99

So far I've used up 4 cans of Deft and will probably need at least 6 more.
I bought a quart of the same Deft lacquer to use with my spray unit.

Yhe headstock should be finished in\\within the next 2 days.

John

Wow! 10 cans! The Lacquercaster X.
I'm starting to have doubts about a DIY flake on a mini strat body I have, but I plan on the sparkle/deft/preval route with a rutoleum purple metallic base. So hopefully I will only need 5 cans of deft ;). You are patient if nothing else. The tele looks just plain fantastic.

[Spunky99]

Wow! 10 cans! The Lacquercaster X.
I'm starting to have doubts about a DIY flake on a mini strat body I have, but I plan on the sparkle/deft/preval route with a rutoleum purple metallic base. So hopefully I will only need 5 cans of deft ;). You are patient if nothing else. The tele looks just plain fantastic.

I used the large .015" hex flakes. I would venture a guess the smaller .008" flakes would be easier to cover in clear. Especially if using a preval unit. Buckocaster can probably give more detail as he has used both size flakes in his builds.

I figure if I take my time on this build and do it right, it will be beautiful for the rest of my life. I have my Hwy 1 Tele w/nocaster pups ready to play in the living room every night before bed so I am in no hurry to finish. I pretty much own all of the major Fender and Gibson models so I have plenty of diversity in my quiver. Now if I can figure out how to play

[Buckocaster51]

In a quick experiment that I performed last fall...

the 0.008" hex flake goes through a Preval just fine and lays down great. It would take MUCH less clear to level it.

The big flake, sifters, and GALLONS of DEFT that Spunky and I have used can give very nice results. I am not going to pretend that it is the best, or only way of doing it.

Even spraying the 0.015" flake through my big bore cheap top loading spray gun gives a much flatter surface than you get when you sprinkle it on.

I will tell you though...NOTHING looks better than that big flake dumped on randomly. It reflects light in all sorts of crazy directions.

My plan is to try mixing in some holographic flakes with with some silver, red, white, and blue. I think that may look like something from another planet.

If you know what I mean.

[Spunky99]

I will tell you though...NOTHING looks better than that big flake dumped on randomly. It reflects light in all sorts of crazy directions.

Yeah baby!

In the sun, it really looks alive. The glitter looks like it is moving on it's own like there are some alien nanobots running amok.
It is worth the work and the layers of Deft just to get this look.
Photos don't even do it justice.

I'm going to try to get my mini-DV cam to catch the show in the sunlight. Though we are overcast here so far today the weather report is calling for some clearing and sun this afternoon when I get off work.
A quick post to YouTube and I'll post the link later today here.

There's fire in them thar sparkles.....

[Spunky99]

NanoBots....running amok......

[Buckocaster51]

Isn't that something!?

Those flakes rawk!

[Taipan]

That is mesmerizing !

[axmaker]

Originally Posted by Spunky99

NanoBots....running amok......

just, just, .....wow!

[MulliganChebichev]

Originally Posted by Spunky99

NanoBots....running amok......

I wonder if that plane thought that was a S.O.S signal?

[Westerly Sunn]

...we Believe!
I sure would love to have me some britches that looked like that. Porter Wagoner didn't even have none like that... I don't believe...

[<jbc>]

How do these sparkley guitars look once the lacquer shrinks down after a few years? Just how how smooth and polished does the finish have to be when new, especially if its gonna tighten up like nitro does?

Anybody got an older sparkle guitar they can post a pic of?

Thanks.

[milkshape]

Thanks guys for the info,

Spunky based on this "Now if I can figure out how to play", you and I share a common trait "More Money Than Talent", which not only being a true statement is a great name for a rock band. But since I have only a tele and a strat you probably have more of both than me!

[Spunky99]

Originally Posted by milkshape

Thanks guys for the info,

Spunky based on this "Now if I can figure out how to play", you and I share a common trait "More Money Than Talent", which not only being a true statement is a great name for a rock band. But since I have only a tele and a strat you probably have more of both than me!

Shhhhhh,
My wife might be listening. I have guitars stuffed in all the overhead closet space, under beds etc. and she has only seen 4 or 5 of the 14 guitars I own. She hasn't been able to see past the 1960TV cab with 2 Marshall bluesbreaker 2 x 12 clones that are blocking her view and access to my amp closet that has a SLO 100 and and and and and..... She would freak if I unloaded that closet into the living room....just absolutely freak out....
She already saw the PA system when I took it to work for the Christmas party.
I play a little every day and I get a little better. I have great tone but my fret hand has seen better days so I struggle with speed and accuracy.

[milkshape]

I'm sure we would freak too! Sparkle on Wayne....

[Spunky99]

I've been busy with the headstock the last few days.
I spray on 3 coats of Deft gloss, let it sit for 12 hours and wet sand with 1000 grit paper on a rubber sanding block. I got the surface like a sheet of glass and gave her one more light spray and allowed her to dry overnight. This morning I cut out my custom made inkjet decals with my logo and applied them to the headstock.
The first photo is with natural light from the kitchen window and the second is with the shade drawn and a flash used to show the sparkles.

What do ya think?

[axmaker]

Originally Posted by Spunky99

I've been busy with the headstock the last few days.
I spray on 3 coats of Deft gloss, let it sit for 12 hours and wet sand with 1000 grit paper on a rubber sanding block. I got the surface like a sheet of glass and gave her one more light spray and allowed her to dry overnight. This morning I cut out my custom made inkjet decals with my logo and applied them to the headstock.
The first photo is with natural light from the kitchen window and the second is with the shade drawn and a flash used to show the sparkles.

What do ya think?

looks like plenty of room for dem srting tees.......