kodiakblair Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 That is going to be amazing when finished. Hell it looks amazing just now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 [quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1414946091' post='2594924'] That is going to be amazing when finished. Hell it looks amazing just now. [/quote] Agreed. With a greenburst stain & gloss finish it should look amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Did you measure where the holes are for the bridge mounting screws and ground wire so you can easily locate them again? Assume you can feel the veneer dip over the pickup cavity. Really interesting figuring going on there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 2, 2014 Author Share Posted November 2, 2014 [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1414964089' post='2595191'] Did you measure where the holes are for the bridge mounting screws and ground wire so you can easily locate them again? Assume you can feel the veneer dip over the pickup cavity. Really interesting figuring going on there! [/quote] Hi, HowieBass Yes - the figuring is great. And yes - having been in the position in the past of 'now where did those screws fit??' I always set up a paper template nowadays - I just press round the neck pocket and pickup slots and then the various screw and earth wire holes: You can always find the big chambers, but the screw holes are usually something else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 I found another Stanley disposable knife last night so did the back and the rough trimming of the main chambers and holes. Here's the back - the cutout will be the same colour as the sides (black/green to dark green): ...and here's the top with the main chambers and holes cut out: I'm pleased with it so far. Next job for later this week is feathering in the veneer to the sides and getting rid of any PVA overlap at the sides...stain will not take to PVA covered wood so it's all got to go! Thanks for looking and your encouraging feedback Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Cool!!! Can't wait to see the figuring go 3D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 That's really pretty - and coming along nicely. A rich green should metal it up nicely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 (edited) It was a perfect morning for the edge sanding - dry and low sun casting shadows to spot the rough edges - so I'm afraid the day job simply had to wait I sanded the veneer edges. Basically, you run along the join line of the veneer using a block with coarse sandpaper aiming to get a smooth and continuous curve and all of the PVA off the join line. You also need to get all of the PVA off any of the body wood - it will not take stain. The easiest way of finding if you've got it all off is to wipe it with a damp cloth - any remaining PVA stands out as white. This is during the process: Also this morning the bigger bottle of the green ink shade Bryan chose arrived in the post so - well why not... There's some tidying up to do but the middle is the chosen colour and the burst is simply adding a little black ink to the green. I don't think it's going to need a great deal of additional work prior to the finishing. In real life it is a bit greener than it looks in this shot. Once the finish starts building up, it will darken slightly and visually gain more texture: Exciting! Although, this is where the progress slows right down...finishing - don't you just love it... Andy Edited November 4, 2014 by Andyjr1515 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Awesome!!!!! Beats the hell out of the picture I had formed in my head. Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 [quote name='allighatt0r' timestamp='1415112222' post='2596795'] Awesome!!!!! Beats the hell out of the picture I had formed in my head. Love it. [/quote] That'll be a 'phew...!' then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 That's looking stunning already, can't wait to see you do more to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 5, 2014 Author Share Posted November 5, 2014 Thanks, folks I'm pleased with it so far and it should get better and better. The next bit will be a bit slower. Bryan would like a slightly satin look so I will be using Tru-oil rather than good-old hardglaze, that should give it an 'old bass in good condition' look rather than an old bass trying to look like a new bass. Along the same lines, I will try to put some very subtle arm wear on the top edge of the arm rest. We have also agreed to let the finish undulate with the veneer - I tried a sample sanded smoother but this particular veneer loses a lot of its texture when you do that. I won't post any shots until there have been a few coats of clear filler and tru- oil applied so probably the weekend before the next post. Thanks for looking Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 8, 2014 Author Share Posted November 8, 2014 (edited) I've finished the sealing coats and this will give an idea of the final colour. The irony of finishing is that you get to this stage and then basically have to sand / wire wool it all off again! The sealer/filler dries clear but is there really just to fill the pores. Then the Tru-oil coats will be applied. These will start off quite glossy but after a few weeks settle down to a soft satin (and, contrary to its name, does dry to a lacquer hardness...although no where near as tough). It's a good finish for an old bass because the final article doesn't look uncharacteristically pristine - it takes on a pleasing patina. The colour, though, is pretty representative. What I am pleased with is the darkened edges and back cutout. Where there is end grain, it is almost black, but where the side grain is, the green shows through. You can see this particularly well on the back cutout: In real life this looks the absolute dogs b******s - when it's finished, I think we'll be able to post it on the 'In Praise of Green Basses' thread, don't you Bryan? Edited November 8, 2014 by Andyjr1515 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 [quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1415441987' post='2600324'] In real life this looks the absolute dogs b******s - when it's finished, I think we'll be able to post it on the 'In Praise of Green Basses' thread, don't you Bryan? [/quote] I think we will be crowned king of that thread Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 (edited) Been away from the day job for a few days that has given the Birchwood Casey Sealer / Filler time to properly harden. This evening, I've given it a good rub down with 00000 wire wool and started applying the first coat of Tru-Oil, which has gone on well I've never used their Stock Sheen & Conditioner before but have ordered some to try it - it is reputed to have a slight cutting content to tone the gloss down a bit towards the satin finish Bryan and I are aiming for. Allowing for drying time (they recommend leaving at least 7 days from the last coat before using the stock sheen and from experience of similar final processes, 2 weeks to harden would be better) I reckon this will be finished in around 3 weeks time...day job allowing! I'll post some shots when there's something worth posting. Andy Edited November 14, 2014 by Andyjr1515 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 16, 2014 Author Share Posted November 16, 2014 (edited) Looks pretty much the same but this is with the Tru-oil finish coats starting to build up: There are various ways of using Tru-oil - it will build up to an 'almost-gloss' hard lacquer coat or you can apply it onto unstained wood with fine wire wool that creates a mush which grainfills with the dust from the wood itself, then buffed up you get a satin, wood-grain finish (which is how you would apply it to a shotgun tailstock which is what it is designed for. When you have a stained finish, you can't use the latter technique because it would wire wool most of the stain off too. However, tru-oil applied as gloss always does tend to dull down a bit over time (it is a finish I like very much) or you can accelerate that with either very fine sanding with 00000 wire wool or with mild auto T-cut type products. The one thing I haven't tried yet is the Birchwood Casey product mentioned above. I'll try that first, but it will need to be after leaving the final coating to harden properly (7-14 days). Bryan and I have plumbed for satin rather than going for high gloss (and thus using Tru-oil), because it is more compatible with the age, the neck and the original finish of the Thunder Jet. When it is then mocked back up, we'll see if a bit of subtle wear would look good or just leave it to wear naturally. Probably, like the comet lander, the thread will go into temporary hibernation for a few weeks before bursting back with the final, reassembled product As always, thanks for looking Andy Edited November 16, 2014 by Andyjr1515 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 29, 2014 Author Share Posted November 29, 2014 Decisions made (pickguard / final finish, etc) and reassembly in progress. We've gone for no pickguard and let the tru-oil gloss de-gloss itself (Tru-Oil progressively loses the high gloss after a few weeks) rather than accelerate it with a satin buffing compound. I put the electrics back this afternoon and reassembled the main components ready for restringing and set-up tomorrow. In the process, I put a new Switchcraft jack in but have left everything else alone so that the tone is unaffected. Here are a few shots in the fading light of a dull grey day! Dogs b******s or wot! The credit for the colour scheme and choice of veneer all down to Bryan Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted November 29, 2014 Share Posted November 29, 2014 Andy That is a thing of beauty. Yourself and Bryan have come up with a classic. I keep thinking of peacock feathers when I look at the veneer and colours. It's just so cool. KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted November 29, 2014 Share Posted November 29, 2014 That's a really nice finish and the colour works so well. Great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 An absolute cracker! It is almost luminescent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Undead Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 Very nice job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 30, 2014 Author Share Posted November 30, 2014 Thanks for the kind words, folks It is now - as near as dammit - FINISHED Sounds good too! Thanks for all the encouragement, folks Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 that looks amazing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamfist Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 (edited) Absolutely awesome job Andy. I will have to start a "magnificent unique green Westones" thread for Bryan and myself to post in. Edited December 1, 2014 by hamfist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 1, 2014 Author Share Posted December 1, 2014 [quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1417427155' post='2620096'] Absolutely awesome job Andy. I will have to start a "magnificent unique green Westones" thread for Bryan and myself to post in. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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