The smokeless tobacco is a cool idea. Niki, I don't think soaking cigs is going to work well. The tobacco has already been dried. Chewing tobacco is going to be the moistest, dip or moist snuff next. Although, I'm not real sure how popular that is across the pond. Good luck!

Remember though that you are going to get a much different effect by wiping/rubbing a liquid on than you will get by applying smoke.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Ah its all a moot point now. the first layer of lacquer is on. The food colouring yellowed the white enough and the green undercoat is tinting it too. The colour looks ancient.

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Excellent, how soon til you post some pics?

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Its going to be a while mate. I need to wait a couple o weeks before i start polishing the clearcoat. The idea was to turn something i'd wrecked into a closet classic finish. Its more light relic but its better than it was.

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For Nitro, I wait 30 days. i know they suggest a bit shorter, but given humidity, and other factors, I always like to err on the side of caution.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Just been reading up on the pre-cat tin. It says 30-35 min's sandable????
Does that mean its good to go? the last coat went on at noon.

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Always pick a discrete part of the finish and do a fingernail check. I find all these companies are VERY VERY optimistic when it comes to their suggested curing times. That said these pre catalyzed finishes can cure very quickly.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

The lighting isnt helping the yellowing effect. Tried to get the worn rather than relic'd look.

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Nice work Niki. The finish , at least in this light , looks like the white is just starting to cream up. If its a little more dramatic than the pic shows, it looks older. I like it, looks like an older well played, but not really abused guitar. Tasteful aging is key. A guy named tangelolemon on the reranch site said about roadworns (and other 'relics') and faded jeans:

There's a difference between:



and :



Fender take this to heart.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Twelvebar - I think that bottom picture is pulled straight from my high school yearbook... Class of 1982 Rocks!

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I love the smell of hot vacuum tubes in the morning...

I thought it was my cousin Doug at first glance haha

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Doug likes to party eh?

Its the beer of completion for me then bed. Night lads

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Come hang them in my garage for a month or so!

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

[quote="all_thumbs09"][quote="nikininja"]Anybody know of any good ways to replicate nicotine staining prior to lacquering?

I remember when I was an apprentice we used a spray gun and compressor- mixed nitro with a bit of stain and tested on a white painted block, then on a smooth sanded piece of maple to see if was the right shade.. I know proffesional gear comes at a cost- why not try your local hobby store?..

I think the problem with nitro is that if dried with a bit of humidity it can develop a slight clouded effect on the finish..

I learnt that when we where sent a batch of les pauls where the finish on the headstock cracked and we were chosen to repair them, we prepared them, carefully placed the decals then sprayed them, only to find a couple days later they clouded due to our humidity- it was a great day to master the art of sanding

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