Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Other Stuff => Guitars => Topic started by: pullshocks on June 08, 2020, 12:19:49 pm

Title: A poplar dye stain burst I can live with
Post by: pullshocks on June 08, 2020, 12:19:49 pm

After a lot of experimentation on scrap boards, and some tips from Tubenit, I think this is ready to start finishing.  The grain on this body is a lot more cooperative than the test boards.


I stained the whole body with Trans Tint Honey amber, let it dry, and came back with Trans Tint Golden Brown on the back, sides, and burst outline.  The color looks better in person than in the photo.



I will be using Target EM 6000 water borne finish, applied by brush.  I do not have the facilities or equipment for solvent based finishes or  spray application.

Title: Re: A poplar dye stain burst I can live with
Post by: tubenit on June 09, 2020, 05:19:45 am

Wow!  That's impressive!  Seriously, poplar is a difficult wood to stain evenly & your job turned out quite good. 

I don't have spray equipment either.  I use  Minwax Clear gloss lacquer from Lowe's.  Takes about 3 cans.  A better lacquer for super high clear gloss is Deft Clear Wood finish IF you can find it.  Nor do I really have the "facility" to spray it.  I wear a mask and walk outside on my driveway ……….. spray a coat ……………. walk into my garage and hang the guitar (using a coat hanger) suspended on to a nail.  Very low tech.

I eventually will spray around 21 light coats on.  My guess is that after sanding and polishing, that maybe 8-12 thin coats of
lacquer is still left on it?  I sand it lightly with 320-600 grit about every 7 coats. Final sanding is 1000-2000 grit.

I sprayed the last coat of lacquer on my Thinline the other day and am just waiting a few days before sanding and polishing.

However, you choose to do yours ……….. I think it will turn out to be a great guitar body! 

Thanks for sharing!   Have fun with your project!   Jeff

Title: Re: A poplar dye stain burst I can live with
Post by: pullshocks on June 10, 2020, 01:02:31 am

Thanks Jeff.


I have done a neck with the Deft rattle cans, sprayed outside when weather allowed, just like you describe...


Have run into  something weird after brushing on a couple coats of the Target Ultraseal water base shellac sealer.  A stripe has appeared along part of the glue line.  Something related to how much glue was absorbed.  I'm just going to live with it, even though it makes my string ferule holes look off center

Title: Re: A poplar dye stain burst I can live with
Post by: tubenit on June 10, 2020, 08:18:21 pm

That would not bother me at all!  I think it looks just fine.  Zero issue, IMO. I've never done a single build that didn't have some minor mistake.   :icon_biggrin:

Jeff