Refinish questions

[rdamaral]

Sully has been giving me some advice about a refin project I have going.

Some of you might have seen this Fusion body on the Bay. I grabbed it to try it out, and she is a royal bitch. The previous owner filled the two single routes, and hammered a bottle cap where a pot was.

All spots have been filled and blocked smooth. Then sprayed with water based laquer. But the spots keep floating out. Sully mentioned glazing with a polyester puddy, but I haven't gotten there yet.

I just wanted to post pics for Sully and any other seasoned refinishers for some advice.

[Devotee]

I say strip whatever's on it and sand the fucker flat to 500grit. If the spots keep "floating out" as you say then it probably means it hasn't been sanded flat enough. After sanding it, go over it with some epoxy to fill in any gaps and sand again.

[rdamaral]

I've sanded it flat, and even run it through a drum sander. It was flat, trust me.

More than likely I need to sand, and glaze it with a filler, then finish over it.

[decadence5423]

If you can see the original route before you paint it's very likely it's going to show through the paint. It's possible the filler shrunk a bit and maybe it needed more time.

[ulijdavid]

Nothing you can do. It's the material mismatches and glue. There is shrinking and all sorts of other science happening. The only way I know of eliminating it is to glue a veneer over it all. If you have a local building supply place, you can get maple veneers which are about 0.040" thick. Even with the veneer you may get the visual problems. The thicker the veneer the less chance you will have "see through". Below is a project I did filling in two single coils. The second picture shows the veneer before paint.
R-016.jpgR-022.jpg

[sully]

+1.

[rdamaral]

I think a veneer is beyond my scope. I might try the poly glaze that Sully suggested first. if that doesn't work I don't know what I will do. I really wanted to be able to finish this and make it look good. I was excited for a single hum guitar.

[silar]

Its the water based lacquer. my guess is that the filler is soaking up the water in it.

[LaoWai]

Yep, looks like your filler shrank a bit.
You "can" get it perfect, car painters can do Bondo repairs that look 100%. IMO Work it 100% through primer/base coats first

Cheers

[ulijdavid]

Yep, looks like your filler shrank a bit.
You "can" get it perfect, car painters can do Bondo repairs that look 100%. IMO Work it 100% through primer/base coats first
Cheers

Car painters and motorcycle painters can make bondo invisible because they are spraying over a plastic or metal surface. Wood expands and contracts at a much more noticeable rate at various temperatures and humidities. It's not just the filler shrinking, it's the wood moving at a different rate than the bondo.

[LaoWai]

Car painters and motorcycle painters can make bondo invisible because they are spraying over a plastic or metal surface. Wood expands and contracts at a much more noticeable rate at various temperatures and humidities. It's not just the filler shrinking, it's the wood moving at a different rate than the bondo.

True that! I just did a DKMG but I used fiberglass as the filler, worked out well. Point being.. its not impossible.. just hard

[Learn Guitars]

Car painters and motorcycle painters can make bondo invisible because they are spraying over a plastic or metal surface. Wood expands and contracts at a much more noticeable rate at various temperatures and humidities. It's not just the filler shrinking, it's the wood moving at a different rate than the bondo.

On top of that, if you use wood for a plug, you need to make sure the grain is going in the same direction. It also helps to use a plug of the same species of wood. The glue you use and how thick it is needed will also become an issue. Best way to get it is like Uli mentions. Avoid water base stuff when using color. You can get away with it if it is natural finish. But I still avoid them, I avoid them almost as much as flourescent stuff..

[ulijdavid]

I avoid them almost as much as flourescent stuff..

You had to throw that in didn't you????
I really appreciate Mike's help on a project I have.

[sully]

I really appreciate Mike's help on a project I have.

+1,000,000. Mike will not only answer the phone, but he'll talk you down off of the ledge and give beer recommendations. What more can you ask?

Sully

[coloradoman25]

epoxy can work as well but all of these things OTHER than the veneer can get really touchy and down the road will likely rear their head at some point.