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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 11:41 am
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Today and yesterday have been the final phases before once again reassembling everything.
Pickups and covers and all the rather time consuming intricacies of getting it all correct.

Will follow up with pics in a bit.

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 1:58 pm
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If I have anyone puzzled here.... It is because I'm on the pickup height screw adjustment question :idea:
From the beginning I did not want any adjustment screws showing from the front of the guitar, let alone a pickup route any larger than the oval shape of the pole and bobbin cover.
It's fair to say that, tentatively considering the traditional mode of front pup adjustment did at certain moments of frustration, seem like the easier solution but as they say, where there's a will, there's a motivated pigheaded person driving the train. :lol:
So for the hardware.. Easily found at your nearby hardware supply store ... For me Lowes and it's hardware section is the most convenient and closest.
The pup cavity covers perform double duty as covers and the adjustment screws are recessed on the covers. This way I only have to remove the covers if I need to get to the wiring which should be rarely after install and soldering is completed..
The screws are Hillman Oval Headed Phillips Brass Machine Screws ( reminds me of Max Headroom... Some of you may not be old enough for that bit of memory bank overload :shock: ) the thread size is 8-32 x 1-1/2
I did need to cut them to lenght. The screws then fit into Hillman 1" aluminum threaded posts. The springs were also from the hardware store bins at Lowes. There is quite a choice but many have just to strong of a compression resistance to work.
Now my reasoning for all of this is (1) for all the posts and springs and screws, I spent less than $10. Plus there are many variations allowing you to think of many other options instead of what I have done here..

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I also trimmed off the threaded part of the posts that you can see protruding out on the pup covers..

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I had to drill out to size and then thread tap the screw adjustment holes in the Texas Specials so that the aluminum posts would thread into and hold both the bobbin cover as well as the pickup.....
Cannot hurry doing this as the risk is of accidentally severing one of the windings on the pups poles. So it took a few hours to do each pick up, fit recut for length, refit, recut, fit ......
Anyway at the end I had to drill out the posts even deeper and rethread them .. Yeah ... :cry: :roll:
Now you understand why I considered the standard way of doing the pup height adjustment...
And later the next day I would have been totally disappointed with giving up...

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Last edited by 53magnatone on Fri Jun 26, 2015 2:57 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 2:56 pm
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Rock Star
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The pup height adjustment is not completely resolved but I will attend to it last after the body is lacquered and the covers are stained and lacquered. ( have spares for R&D )

So next is the crucial part of test fitting. Stringing up the bridge @ the low E and high E to see if all is centered as I measured long ago.. ( Remember what I refered to in earlier posts as critically important to have the centering, depth and pitch measurements absolutely correct. )
Refitted the neck and placed the bridge, ran the E thru the body over the saddle and tightened on the tuner... :?: :shock:

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It is right where it all should be. Once the saddles are adjusted fore and aft and according to the neck curvature, it is actually more on point than I thought it would...
This is why taking the time to check and recheck all measurement more than twice is not OCD or anything but assurance that at assembly time you don't have a potential wood stove candidate.

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I didn't include a pic of the high E strung up. I did this a while back but there have been further depth adjustments to the neck pocket so it's good that all is where it should be.... So now ...

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:14 pm
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On to final sanding ..... 8) :arrow:

No more orbital sanding as final sanding is by hand. I started with 100 grit, smoothing out all the round overs, the horns and especially any spot where I could feel a divot by running my fingers over the wood.

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Then I continued with 150 grit, then 200, 250 and finally 400 grit.. Not much point in going any finer as the wood dust particles will just clog the sandpaper.
BTW I use hook and loop discs for the orbital sanders. ( have 4 different ones and two belt sanders ) and for the hand sanding I use 3M Pro Grade sandpaper. The type you can wet sand with.
But not until the entire body is coated with at least 4 coats..

Now these five covers are ready to be final sanded and stained.
Did decide to stain all covers with Minwax wood finish in Dark Walnut #2716.

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Here they are with 2 coats of Walnut Dark Stain. I will have to wait at least until Saturday probably as friday is rain forecasted and cannot spray lacquer when the humidity is high. If it was water based it would be OK but I am using an oil based lacquer.. More on this later...

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:33 pm
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OK... So as I write this I just sprayed the 2nd topcoat on the body. This after 3 coats of lacquer overall.
This was the 1st pic after the 1st coat in the spray booth.

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It doesn't seem like much of a contrasting change but the 1st coat fills in the pores and stays rather opaque.
The depth effect is revealed after multiple coats as the latter posts pics will show...

Side view and it hints at the figured grain pattern ...

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After the two 1st lightly sprayed coats, I hung the guitar outside, In the shade of tree's. Now I could not have done this as of a week or more ago as all the tree's were still spouting pollen.. That would have been a fine mess. :roll:

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I used the same plywood stick fastened to the neck pocket that I used for the Stratopartster I and II.
It's the easiest way to spray a body as I can hang it and also turn it around to spray.

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Last edited by 53magnatone on Fri Jun 26, 2015 3:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 4:03 pm
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Looks outstanding!!!


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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 4:34 pm
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sfceric64 wrote:
Looks outstanding!!!


Thank You very much, I will post additional pictures tonight, as I was thinking about dinner... 8)

Here are more from today.

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Image

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 5:44 pm
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Here is the Lacquer Spray I am using... Yes it can be done with rattle cans. The trick is having the contents warmed up to no more than 90 degrees F. You can warm up the cans while periodically shaking them in a pan of water. Just water from your tap is sufficient. I do not recommend placing the can in the pot of water if using a stove to heat the water. Heat the water, then remove the pot from heat source, yopu should be able to place your hand in the water and keep it there. Not anywhere near the boiling point.
Or you can place them outside in the sun, but you cannot leave them for long. Outside they should be warm to the touch and that is enough. You need both the lacquer and the propellant inside the can well mixed and warmed up the spray exits the nozzle in a finer pattern...

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Up to this point I have only lightly sanded once after the 2nd light coat to remove dust particles and missed wood particles.
Also after final sanding Ifirst vacuumed the body ( soft brush attachment and then wiped the body with a cotton T- shirt before initially spraying. Need to do this to remove particles..

This lacquer brand is easy to use, dries to the touch in about 20-30 minutes, depending on humidity factor. It's made by Watco, is a clear fast drying and does not need sanding in between coats. ( you do have to very fine sand after a couple but this lacquer is almost run free. I really had to spray the last topcoat thickly for it to run-on the edge. I let it dry a bit tan sprayed lightly over the discrepancy.
It actually repaired itself or smoothed itself out if you will...
One Caveat, it is toxic so mask and ventilation is paramount. Hence a spray booth with a form of pulling air out of the booth to the exterior...

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 5:49 pm
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These are after the 3rd coat and I placed the guitar outside each time but only after the lacquer had time to harden for 20+ minutes.

Image

Image

Image

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 5:56 pm
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These are the last pics taken around 18:00PM.
I am spraying the top only. This is where I referred I had a little bit of lacquer running but see if anyone can spot the glipsch in the photos.

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Image

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Can only spray the top today. It is flat and the idea is to fill in the pores by spraying on a horizontal body rather than vertical. Less waste as more of the overspray lands on the body instead of missing and falling off. Thus why I had a bit of running from applying too much too fast..

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:04 pm
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This is where I leave off today. A step back to earlier 1st coats but I like the layout...
Next updates will be about spraying the covers and finishing up the pup adjustment layout.

Ah Yes !! :lol:

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And This.... The Levitated Telepartster ..

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 9:23 am
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What can I say.
It is done. All the covers and the body have been sprayed their final coat...
It should take about 1 week for the 10 coats to cure fully. It's already hard enough to be able to handle lightly but any pressure like putting it in the case would show...

I am more than pleased with the Walcot lacquer. It really did fill in pores and divots. I did not want to use wood filler as I was afraid i would have a pigmentation problem, especially since the Walnut varies from light to dark and is striated...

Image

Image

Image

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 9:48 am
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SHAZAAM

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 10:09 am
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Almost like " I dream of Jeannie " :lol:

But I'm adding the last contrast pic... Took a chance on laying the body down on four 1-1/2 wood napkin holders. ( also in walnut :wink: )

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster IV & TelePartster I Build
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 10:16 am
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As a tease,
This is the next project. It's only one body. the piece on the right is actually the back of the baulk. It was 3-1/4 + thick so I had enough thickness to slice off what will be used to make the rear covers for pups and control cavity and I believe I may also do another neck plate cover.... That is unless I can get a really nice engraved plate for this... I already have the donor guitarneck and all hardware.
( it is actually my crimson red mim )

But I will start a new thread for this, separating it from this one and I'll just post the links for ease of backtracking....

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