May I pick the brains of you experienced finishers please...
My current not-a-Strat build is coming along nicely. I'm currently sanding and final shaping and thinking ahead. (Pictures to follow later.)
I intend to finish it (body, neck and headstock) with a solid colour (Sonic Blue nitro) using rattle cans.
How should I mask the rosewood fingerboard AND de-mask it whilst maintaining a perfect paint line running up to the fretboard edge.
Is it a case of using a new scalpel blade and a straight edge along the edge of the tape before peeling it off?
I'm guessing there will be a little ledge at the edge of the finish after the tape is removed... how should I deal with that?
Hints and tips gratefully received.
Thanks
Herb
How should I mask the rosewood fingerboard AND de-mask it whilst maintaining a perfect paint line running up to the fretboard edge.
Very Carefully... ?
Mask up the fretboard as normal then:
add another strip down the sides and across the ends to keep the color coat off the rosewood
Is it a case of using a new scalpel blade and a straight edge along the edge of the tape before peeling it off?
No scalpel blade...better to peel off the tape before the paint has gone hard
I'm guessing there will be a little ledge at the edge of the finish after the tape is removed... how should I deal with that?
Use a small brush to paint the edge of the fretboad with clear coat
Then continue to top coat as normal...
GOOD LUCK! PICS PLSSS!
Measure twice, cut once...
Further to this...
It occurs to me that the side of the fingerboard will be masked for the primer coats which will need to harden before several coats of colour.
Will I still be able to demask the sides before the colour has cured? Won't the primer have firmly captured it? Maybe the coats melt into each other and allow easy removal?
I would love your opinion on this Mark...
Maybe I'll mask the fingerboard a fraction of a mil short for the primer and peel off the tape before it sets then remask right up to the edge of the 'board for the colour peeling that off in turn before setting??
(Done the grain filler and sanding sealer...)
Sorry for delay Herb - didn't receive notification and missed this...
Sounds like you would be better to de-mask after the primer and remask again for the colour...
You could leave it but there is a much greater risk of chipping when you peel it off...
Can't wait to see it!!
Measure twice, cut once...
The continuing story...
