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Post by Larry Madsen on Mar 28, 2020 22:35:15 GMT -5
I've never painted a guitar before … as a result that means I have none of the basic equipment to handle the guitar while painting. I went out in the garage today and broke out the table saw and some other tools, found a scrap piece of 2X6 I had left over from another recent project in Queenie's exercise room and went to work. First thing I knew I needed was some sort of paddle to hold the guitar body. I ended up with this  DSC_2069 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr  DSC_2068 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr Then I figured I needed some way to hold the paddle I head out to the back yard to check on some possible options in my stash of old scraps there. I end up with this  DSC_2071 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr My handle fit very nicely in this piece of 1.5" PCV pipe … stroke of luck. Now I need a way to anchor the pipe whilst I utilize what I have here. I turn back to my wood scraps in the garage and began what turned into another all afternoon woodworking project. --------------------------------------------- I'll continue this in the morning. time for some quick dinner and then I'm calling it a day for today.  |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Mar 28, 2020 23:34:55 GMT -5
Larry, you're on the right track. You don't need four screws to hold the body; two is plenty so long as they run into the wood about 1/2" or so. I never use the existing holes in the body to mount the stick, but I know some builders do. You'll also get better results if you use something as a standoff on the screws, between the stick and the guitar body. I usually place two or three small washers on each screw; that creates about 1/8" of air gap between the stick and the body. What this does is it allows sprayed finish to fully coat the corner of the wood on the body rather than form a fillet between the stick and the body. The washers (or whatever you use as a spacer) should not overlap that corner. Look here:  |
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Post by LTB on Mar 29, 2020 4:27:39 GMT -5
Larry, you're on the right track. You don't need four screws to hold the body; two is plenty so long as they run into the wood about 1/2" or so. I never use the existing holes in the body to mount the stick, but I know some builders do. You'll also get better results if you use something as a standoff on the screws, between the stick and the guitar body. I usually place two or three small washers on each screw; that creates about 1/8" of air gap between the stick and the body. What this does is it allows sprayed finish to fully coat the corner of the wood on the body rather than form a fillet between the stick and the body. The washers (or whatever you use as a spacer) should not overlap that corner. Look here: Nice job and nice pointers too! Is this the one you were initially thinking of painting red? I like this color as I do red, just curious
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Post by Larry Madsen on Mar 29, 2020 9:51:40 GMT -5
Thanks for the insight Peegoo. I can easily narrow my attachment pad a bit to allow some finish to flow around and into the pocket and I have some little plastic spacers to create some gap between.
I think you are taking a better approach with the two screws though the pad and into the neck pocket of the body. They will never be seen until someone removes the neck and they do no damage anyway. I put some thought into the attachment there and I'm glad you brought some quick clarity for me on it.
I am assuming you do most of your spray application with the body horizontal and not vertical? Seems it will allow for thicker build of material with less chance of runs on the large surfaces of the front and back.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Mar 29, 2020 10:59:45 GMT -5
LTB, the red guitar in work is the LP Jr DC, but that's on hold while I work on this one.
Larry, you certainly can use the existing four screw holes in the body. The way to do that is to use some sacrificial screws (that don't mind having their heads painted), inserted through the back of the body as usual, and screwed into the holding stick. Use spacers as described above.
The holder I use to support the handle is my hand. I find it easier to apply finish this way because I can rotate or spin the body as I spray the finish. I guess most people either hang or clamp the stick to hold everything in place. Mick in Oz showed us a pic of his painting rig a few months back that uses the same approach you're using, and that is good too.
One of the big reasons I like hand holding for spraying finish is I can apply a slightly thicker finish, and the constant movement prevents runs. When I'm finished spraying I sit for about five minutes rotating the body while the solvent flashes off and the finish tacks up. Then I hang it up like a ham to cure.
Be very aware of the distance between the body and the sprayer. It is stupid easy to get too close, especially on the ends of a Strat's horns (or the Tele's single horn), and get too much finish on that one place too fast. That will cause a run or a sag and make you very unhappy. So keep the can/sprayer at least 10" away and use multiple light passes rather than one or two heavy passes.
How cool would it be to have a zero-G spray booth? You could get perfectly perfect finishes *every time*.
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Post by Larry Madsen on Mar 29, 2020 11:11:20 GMT -5
Thanks Peegoo, the paddle I have certainly can be easily hand held and I see the advantages there as well for manipulating thick finish on the surface.
Sadly, painting cars all we can do is trip the spray gun trigger just enough to get airflow (but no material) and use the mild air pressure to push material around if we see a potential run developing … and it can work quite well. twisting, turning or inverting a guitar body is more ideal.
The base I am making to hold the paddle will hold the guitar body horizontal, but the paddle can easily be pulled out and manipulated in a matter of a few seconds.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Mar 29, 2020 11:24:30 GMT -5
Figured I'd add this for anyone finishing a neck: I use the same method to attach the stick to the neck when spraying finish: two holes in the neck that I drive screws into, with a short stack of washers as spacers. The only consideration with this is to offset your stick holes from the center line of the neck because there's usually the end of the truss rod down the middle; you don't want to hit that with your drill or screws. If you drill a 1/4" hole through the opposite end of the stick you can add a small loop of cord. That allows you to hang it up while the paint cures.  |
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Post by Larry Madsen on Mar 29, 2020 11:39:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips. This is the base I made to hold the paddle … It's complete overkill, but I had fun doing it and that made it worth it.   DSC_2074 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr It started as a simple 2X6 then a couple of holes sawed through it to accept the 1.5" PVC pipe … since I had no real plan it just kept expanding from there until it consume most of yesterday afternoon.  As I thought about how to keep the thing securely in place while I paint several methods went through my mind. In the end I made a box I can fill with a heavy substance to simple counter weight the guitar body. One day several months ago I found a box of tile grout (unopened) in my front yard … weird, but true. Now I have a use for it. I have some scrap steel I can put in the box to create additional weight. That's the next step here. |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Mar 29, 2020 11:43:04 GMT -5
Manna from heaven! Go figure!
One thing that will help is to have some stick-out at the opposite end of your holder where you can grab the end of stick to rotate the guitar body as you spray.
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Post by Larry Madsen on Mar 29, 2020 12:16:24 GMT -5
Manna from heaven! Go figure! One thing that will help is to have some stick-out at the opposite end of your holder where you can grab the end of stick to rotate the guitar body as you spray. That would be a good idea. However I actually put a plate over the back end to keep the paddle from going too far toward the base. This is fully inserted into the base  DSC_2076 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr But it can easily extend out and still be stable in the tube … as long as my counter weight is heavy enough.   DSC_2077 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr |
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Post by Larry Madsen on Mar 30, 2020 10:40:56 GMT -5
It's all loaded up with some chunks of 1/4" steel plate (to the rear) and just about that entire bag of grout. It's pretty heavy and should serve as a good counter weight for any guitar body. I have a top plate to seal it in and a handle to make it easier to grasp and move around. I also have the remains of an old can of red paint I'll use on it in honor of Mr. Wilsey   DSC_2078 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr Edited to add: The box has a coat of white primer on it now, that's why you don't see bare wood any more. |
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Post by LTB on Mar 30, 2020 11:45:26 GMT -5
Figured I'd add this for anyone finishing a neck: I use the same method to attach the stick to the neck when spraying finish: two holes in the neck that I drive screws into, with a short stack of washers as spacers. The only consideration with this is to offset your stick holes from the center line of the neck because there's usually the end of the truss rod down the middle; you don't want to hit that with your drill or screws. If you drill a 1/4" hole through the opposite end of the stick you can add a small loop of cord. That allows you to hang it up while the paint cures. What are you using on the neck? Looks really good! |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Mar 30, 2020 12:54:20 GMT -5
Thanks LTB. This stuff:  |
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Post by Larry Madsen on Mar 31, 2020 15:10:19 GMT -5
Ok, my goofy project is done. What I can say for it is it is portable and can be used anyplace and moved midway if needed. While the paddle can be removed and held by hand when ever desired it's not necessary. It has a handle for easy movement or carry (it is pretty heavy), though I've not weighed it. It counter balances this guitar with ease  DSC_2081 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr Even when extended out.  DSC_2082 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr It's sitting on this coffee can because much of the red paint is still wet and I imagine it will have even greater stability when it's on a flat surface. I don't suppose I have much excuse for not painting my Pawn Shop Project Guitar now … do I. |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Mar 31, 2020 17:07:48 GMT -5
The cool thing about your approach is it's completely portable and it requires no vise or clamps. VERY nice, Larry.
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Post by Larry Madsen on Mar 31, 2020 17:22:29 GMT -5
The cool thing about your approach is it's completely portable and it requires no vise or clamps. VERY nice, Larry. Yes indeed and thank you for the kind words. In looking at it I can see that if by chance I did use it with a heavier body (and it became necessary) it would be easy to slip a block beneath the extended end of the PVC pipe to create a new more supportive fulcrum point … more leverage to assist the heavy rear end of the box. Edited to add: So Queenie asks me, "What does it weigh"? At that point I had to go weigh the thing. It's 21 Pounds Edited again to add: I took your suggestion and drilled a couple of 1/4" holes. I recessed a couple of heavy washers into the wood so that when I tighten screws to secure a body the washers will protect the wood and spread the load.  DSC_2084 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Mar 31, 2020 21:23:29 GMT -5
"What does it weigh?"
"Enough."
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Post by LTB on Apr 1, 2020 6:16:59 GMT -5
Thanks LTB. This stuff: Cool, thanks! Is it easy to get a high sheen without bubbles? |
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Post by Larry Madsen on Apr 21, 2020 11:01:49 GMT -5
I can now report: This little rotisserie guitar holder worked out really, really well for me on my *Pawn Shop Guitar Project*. I attached the guitar for my final run of primer/surfacer and never took it off until all the electronics were installed. I am able to conveniently store, move, spray, sand, cut & polish, assemble, solder everything on and in the body with ease. The body can swiftly and effortlessly be rotated to flip sides, change the angle of approach. Once I have finish sprayed; it can easily be picked up and moved out into the sunlight to cure (if that's what I want) and of course rotated to expose the opposite side to heat or cool if things are heating up too much. I don't know when I will do another guitar, but I like this little tool a lot! |
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woody
Wholenote
Posts: 245
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Post by woody on Apr 21, 2020 11:50:54 GMT -5
Larry, Peegoo, I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts and following your projects. I appreciate your abilities to be inventive and creative as well as your skills at problem solving. Always interesting, never boring. Thanks!
That is all. Carry on.
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Post by LTB on Apr 21, 2020 20:19:37 GMT -5
Larry, Peegoo, I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts and following your projects. I appreciate your abilities to be inventive and creative as well as your skills at problem solving. Always interesting, never boring. Thanks! That is all. Carry on. +1 |
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