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Poly or Nitro on my 62RI CIJ Tele neck? Sands off VERY easy

Discussion in 'Tele Home Depot' started by NeverStock, Jan 22, 2009.

  1. Jan 22, 2009 #1
    NeverStock

    NeverStock TDPRI Member

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    I'm working on my first parts-o-caster, and I snagged a 2002 CIJ 62RI off eBay for cheap. Looked like a slick poly finish and I understand all Fenders since the 60s are encased in poly, so I went to rough up the finish a bit with 60 grit sandpaper, to take the shine off a bit. The finish came off FAST. I backed off quickly to 600 grit and then just stopped. It dulled up and started to feel matte very very fast. I also noticed that 600 grit took the finish off the neck heel completely very quickly when I was trying to remove what appeared to be a glue remnant - everything just came right off to bare wood in a few swipes. Everything I read had suggested that I'd be looking at some serious sanding. So I take it this is nitro? Thanks!
     
  2. Jan 26, 2009 #2
    NeverStock

    NeverStock TDPRI Member

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    Hmmm...is this a question that can't be answered from the info I provided?
     
  3. Jan 26, 2009 #3
    Colt W. Knight

    Colt W. Knight Doctor of Teleocity Ad Free Member

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    If its Japanese, its poly, and 60 grit sandpaper will take the stink of a dead lizard. The real problem with sanding Poly comes when you are trying to strip a body whose finish is very thick. Sand paper will clog up about as quick as you can sand a few swipes, making it a very difficult task. Also, you can get that stuff off fairly easily, but in doing so, you also screw up the surface making refinishing correctly difficult.

    Why are you putting a set of 65 tele tuners on a partscaster? I would sell those suckers to finance my build.
    Those bushing should be press fit, and believe me, they fit in there tight. I take a stiff leather belt, place it on both sides on the neck ( over the bushing and on the bottom of the neck) and press them in with a set of channel locks. However, if they are the wrong size bushings, dont do that. Split post Kluson shafts should be 11/32".
     
  4. Jan 27, 2009 #4
    IggyT

    IggyT Tele-Afflicted

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    Poly I suspect; I took a thin poly finish of a neck down to the bare wood in minutes with 100 grit. The body would be another story...I just wouldnt try...my hands would be sore!
     
  5. Jan 27, 2009 #5
    castpolymer

    castpolymer Poster Extraordinaire

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    That poor neck! What did it ever do to you? Just kidding. 60 grit is waaaaaay too much. Usually 180 or 220 is a good grit to go with to remove even a poly finish. Good luck!
     
  6. Jan 27, 2009 #6
    NeverStock

    NeverStock TDPRI Member

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    Thanks all. I ordered more proper grit sizes from Stew Mac, so I'll wait on that. The body I'm using is an MJT 3 3/4 lb swamp ash white blonde, finished in nitro. I'm trying to build a Pagey Tele - it's my first assembly/build, but I figure I'll use 65 tuners and 59 saddles at the least. Also using Callaham hardware and Mare pickups. I figure at the end if it sucks I'll know it will be me, not the parts.

    I got the bushings to fit by sanding the holes lightly with 600 grit wrapped around a tuner post and then using every last ounce of strength I have to push them in with my hand on a rubber mallet head and the other steadying the immediate back side. I imagine that's as snug as can be. Pretty cool to listen to the body while sanding the holes and hearing everything so clearly - very neat to be evaluating a guitar at this stage of assembly. Thanks again, Mike
     
  7. Jan 27, 2009 #7
    Colt W. Knight

    Colt W. Knight Doctor of Teleocity Ad Free Member

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    Where did you acquire these 59 saddles and 65 tuners? Those would be pretty cool to just have laying around.

    Beware, building is addictive.
     

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  8. Jan 28, 2009 #8
    skibum1999

    skibum1999 TDPRI Member

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    i'll be honest with ya. considering you're making a partscaster and not restoring an original, i would HIGHLY recommend that you sell the 65 tuners and 59 saddles, get some gotoh klusons and glendale twang saddles, and use the leftover money from the sales on some nice Don Mare pickups or Bill Lawrence Keystones and a solid professional setup. but, as always, ymmv


    EDIT: i see you are in fact planning on using Mare pups. in that case, use the extra money for some fun toys, or, dare i say, put it in the bank :eek: :D
     
  9. Jan 28, 2009 #9
    NeverStock

    NeverStock TDPRI Member

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    Thank you for the thoughts guys. The 65 tuners are incomplete - the high E is broken - so they are not worth too much, and so I'm not giving up to much using them in this build. The 59 saddles and screws - a little less excusable - but the threaded steel saddles are so unique and they are vintage correct for a Page caster. Reason for doing this is that I don't see teles being built by Fender that replicate what Page had - top loader with string through option, light swamp ash body, rosewood board, threaded saddles...and I will be using the Mare Zep set anyway. I figure it should be close to what he had. I strung it up without pickups and the thing resonates violently when I strum. Taping any part of the guitar gives a nice sustaining ring on the "ear to the upper bout" test. The overall tone is a bit brighter than my Nocaster and my Rice - I assume due to those having hugely fat necks and brass saddles.
     
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