Can anyone offer helpful thoughts on how to get a proper sunburst finish using products available in the UK - most of the info I've read has been written by or for Americans. I'm looking for something that will also give a good hard finish. Any thoughts or advice on french polishing?
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Looks interesting (and his "how to" pages are helpful). However I agree with you that the prices put a bit of limit on things - following his technique for sunbursts requires a miminum of four cans which, by my reckoning, would set me back £65 inc P&P.
BigBadDom said:
I've bought rattle cans from Steve - nice guy and good products. My only gripe is that they're not cheap enough to experiment/muck about with. I'd like to try sunbursting, but having failed to do a butterscotch finish on a recent tele build, I'd just be throwing money away! I did end up with a reasonable clear gloss finish though.
I've bought rattle cans from Steve - nice guy and good products. My only gripe is that they're not cheap enough to experiment/muck about with. I'd like to try sunbursting, but having failed to do a butterscotch finish on a recent tele build, I'd just be throwing money away! I did end up with a reasonable clear gloss finish though.
There is a guy on thebay that sells nitrocellulose spray cans for about £12 a time. There is also a link on google that explains ways of applying sunburst finishes to guitars.
If I can find them tomorrow I will send you the links.
Hogs.
I think you may be able to get nitro rattlecans in the UK for sunbursting..that's assuming you don't have access to a proper spraygun set-up.
French polishing is a great finish, but not for applying a sunburst - I reckon you'd really have to have the base coat already 'bursted before you FP.
If you want to try FP, don't buy it ready made in a bottle, make up your own polish with shellac crystals. There's a lot of technique in it - I've only done one guitar with FP (a 19th C parlour guitar), but it turned out great.
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BigBadDom said:
http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/lacquer.html
I've bought rattle cans from Steve - nice guy and good products. My only gripe is that they're not cheap enough to experiment/muck about with. I'd like to try sunbursting, but having failed to do a butterscotch finish on a recent tele build, I'd just be throwing money away! I did end up with a reasonable clear gloss finish though.
Dom
If I can find them tomorrow I will send you the links.
Hogs.
French polishing is a great finish, but not for applying a sunburst - I reckon you'd really have to have the base coat already 'bursted before you FP.
If you want to try FP, don't buy it ready made in a bottle, make up your own polish with shellac crystals. There's a lot of technique in it - I've only done one guitar with FP (a 19th C parlour guitar), but it turned out great.