The Emeraldcaster Project (aka Son of Meloncaster)

[Buckocaster51]

Since we NEVER use the TDPRI to buy or sell ANYTHING...this is going way, way, way, off list...

If you know what I mean.

email been done sent

[jwells393]

I agree with maestrovert ......... you next creation should be a multi-colored sparklecaster.

[evol04gt]

i apologize.... i did put my email address in there... if i happen to get any emails from anyone, i will not tell....lol.. i was reffered to this cite by someone on epiphone.com that stated that there was total freedom here as long as it was respectful and not scamming or spam or people using it for commercial advertising...consider my request to be a gentileman's inquiry.

[Buckocaster51]

Okay, since the body is basically ready for paint, I guess I can talk about it.

It is bound in white with Red, White, & Blue checkerboards. Neck and headstock too.

The plan, and we all know how long plans hold up when the rubber hits the road, the plan is to take some 0.015" silver flake, and mix in about 5% each of red, blue, and holographic. Maybe even more than 5% holographic. I will have to make a test run.

If my mental image is right, it should look okay.

Maybe not quite so much red and blue. Just enough to be apparent. Too much and it will just turn into mud.

Or something like that!

Thanks for the input guys.

[Buckocaster51]

Let's start today's installment with this picture for Vegas Vic and The Austin Flash.



I'm even beginning myself that these may be finished some day!

Now back to the prototype. I think it has enough goop on it and we can try to polish it.



The first thing we will do is dry sand it with 320, 400, and 600 grit papers with the old Makita DA



until it looks about like this



It will probably do...

I am holding my breath on the edges...trying hard not to go anywhere near them with that "coarse" stuff.

[Buckocaster51]

Now we'll get out the Micro Mesh stuff...

first 4000...I have no idea where that number comes from...it certainly does not have the same meaning as grit with sandpaper



then 6000




then 8000



then 12000



it is starting to look nice on the top and back.

[Buckocaster51]

can't forget the sides...



I'm afraid that most of the sides will be hand work.

I am so afraid of sanding through the goop. Unlike lacquer, each layer is discrete...ain't no way that sanding through one has anything but a bad outcome.

Now I'll turn on some Bootliquor.com radio, and head out to the garage with the buffer...

[Buckocaster51]

Let's see what damage I can do with my handheld buffer and some 3M Hand Glaze...



back and forth...back and forth...this is surely much easier than doing it by hand...Thank you Ready Kilowatt!



I'm even going to have a go at the sides with this wonderful machine!




You know what kids?



Other than making some fingerprints go away...

This one is finished!

Too bad I didn't time the neck to be finished, and the rest of the parts to be here at the same time.

Oh well...I never have thought much of the the "just in time" business model.

[Buckocaster51]

The tractorcaster has been sitting for a week. I checked and the last coat of Sherwin-Williams waterproof cabinet lacquer is good and hard. It "clicks" when I tap it with my fingernail. That is always a good sign.



It does have a bit of orange peel in it. Well, actually more than a bit...and a couple of small insects as well...as well as one pesky champagne sparkle...dang! I wonder how that got there!

Even though Reddy Kilowatt is ready, willing and able to help, there is a race on the electric television I am watching, so I'll do this by hand.



400 grit wet/dry sandpaper with mineral spirits on the big (for me) block.



the shiny spots are gone, as are the insects, (I'm not going to say anything about the stripper dust...maybe nobody will ever notice it!) and it doesn't look bad.

Tomorrow, during the morning news shows, I take it up through the grits to about 1200. Then it will be ready to buff.

Or something like that.

[Buckocaster51]

wEll...I coUld havE worked on that green guitar during the news shows...but I decided to let the lacquer cure a bit longer. No sense in rushing it now...unless somebody starts poking the bear with a sharp stick...

What I did do was work on the frets of this...



It is something that I have been dreading. I would MUCH rather inlay checkerboards than do fretwork. Especially on bound fingerboards. Bound fingerboards, from the perspective of fretwork, absolutely suck.

I hate it so much, I didn't even take any pictures. But, they are done now. If you want to see how I did it, refer to Rob DiStefano's excellent description at frettech.com and Frank Ford's frets.com.

Now putting on decals...that is fun to take of...



the back



the front



funny, those letters look like they are levitating a few 32nds of an inch above the flake...

I wonder how that happened?

Anyway...I have to go attend some silly high school's graduation ceremonies in a bit...when I get back I'll see if I can spray a thin coat or two of DEFT on this.

Maybe...just maybe!

[Buckocaster51]

It fits!



Now I really do need to swallow some ibuprofen, and head to that graduation and try to be sociable.

[axmaker]

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

It fits!



Now I really do need to swallow some ibuprofen, and head to that graduation and try to be sociable.

nice, are you keeping one of the champs for yourself?

[Buckocaster51]

Originally Posted by axmaker

nice, are you keeping one of the champs for yourself?

Yup, the one I do everything on first, is going to stay with me for a while.

Like you may have heard, the Ramans do everything in threes.

I wish I had been a Raman when I did the Rubycasters.

[JohnnyAtomic]

Are you using water w/ the micromesh? or mineral spirits??? what compound w/ the buffer???

Johnny

[Buckocaster51]

Originally Posted by JohnnyAtomic

Are you using water w/ the micromesh? or mineral spirits??? what compound w/ the buffer???

Johnny

water with the micromesh...and a double insulated sander!

the compound I used the other day was 3M Hand Glaze...a swirl remover I guess...and not at all aggressive.

I think this winter I initially used something just a bit more aggressive. I should go back and see if I can figure out what it was.

Too many cans and bottles laying around here.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

I think this winter I initially used something just a bit more aggressive. I should go back and see if I can figure out what it was.

Too many cans and bottles laying around here.

Brother, you say that for my rats nest down here, lotsa "stuff".

Now, which color is this guitar? I think your green, blue, pink orange idea simplifies things a lot.

[maestrovert]

Heya Steve, hope ya don't mind, but i pm'd ya....

[Elliot Easton]

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

It is something that I have been dreading. I would MUCH rather inlay checkerboards than do fretwork. Especially on bound fingerboards. Bound fingerboards, from the perspective of fretwork, absolutely suck.

man, the checkerboard neck binding looks incredible!

[maestrovert]

Originally Posted by Elliot Easton

man, the checkerboard neck binding looks incredible!

Don't it though ?

[Buckocaster51]

Originally Posted by Elliot Easton

man, the checkerboard neck binding looks incredible!

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it.

I did three of those over the winter...of course none of them are finished yet ...and I really doubt I will ever do any more.

Even if we ignore the blood and the odd piece of flesh, there is a part of me in each of them.

If you know what I mean.



I did the abalone on these several years ago. I'll tell you they were a piece of cake compared those forsaken checkerboards!

Of course, the INSTANT I had those checkerboard necks done, I realized that there was ONE simple little thing I could have done to make the process much easier. Go figure.

If you know what I mean.

[chet]

Buckocaster51: Next time I come back to Omaha I'll drop by and you can present me with one of those sparkly gee-tars of yours.