Hi guys, I've not posted for a while, real life has got in the way and guitar build gone on the back burner. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of months ago. She's now had surgery twice, they didn't remove enough first the time. We'll find out later this week what further treatment will be, the good news is that it was found early and is treatable. In the four weeks between surgeries her mother also took ill and passed away, it's been a tough time.

I have made some progress with the guitar, I disappear into my hut now and then to put my mind on something else. I've had enough practice now with grain filling, staining and lacquering and getting better results now the the weather has warmed up a bit. So time to bite the bullet and get on with the real thing. The staining is done on the body, still needs some grain filling before lacquering.

@Robin So sorry for your loss.

We hope that the treatment is succesful and she recovers completely!

Looking sweet!

@robin Sorry for the tough time your family is having. 
Guitar is looking good, bet you’re pleased. Is the point of grain filling just to give a physically smooth surface?

@robin.

Holding you and your wife in our thoughts Robin. 💛💛 

🙏🎸🙂🎶

@koendb  @tej  @russ

Thanks for your kind wishes and thoughts, I'm sure Gina is going to fine after her treatment.

Yes the grain filler is to try and get as smooth a surface as I can before lacquering. It's not just the grain, there are a few little bumps and hollows where I've sanded unevenly on soft/hard areas of the ash. I can't actually see these bumps/hollows but I can feel them, and they show up when I sand the grain filler. I think the gloss lacquer would make them obvious, so I'll persevere and try to get it all flat.

@robin Is it transparent then, would you use it before or after staining? Sounds like another technique I need to test anyway!

@tej

Yes it is transparent, the stuff I've used is called "Sand and Seal". This is the first time I've used it, so can't vouch for its suitability or longevity yet. It's water based and I've tried adding water based stain to it to colour areas that I've sanded through the stain, that seems to have worked okay.

@robin come to think of it there was a small pot of “something” provided when I bought stain and finish for a kit build guitar, wonder if that’s what it was! 

@robin
I was sad to read your family news it puts my broken iPad into perspective. Your build is looking good.

Thanks @Rocknroller912 , hopefully we'll get some better news tomorrow when we go for my wife's results tomorrow. Meanwhile, grain filling and sanding will keep me occupied.

@robin

Thinking of you both. My mum had the same illness and lived till she was 92 without it returning so there can be light at the end of the tunnel

After what seems like an eternity sealing and sanding with sand'n'seal, I'm happy with the smooth surface. Now I've got four coats of lacquer on and pleased with the results so far. I just had one little run with the first two coats, but it sanded out okay and can't see it at all now. How many coat should I put on to build a decent thickness?

@robin

Its looking good and I’m pleased to see you are back. @boo is the paint expert so I’m not going to try answering the question.

Thanks @Rocknroller912, I haven't really been away, just been lurking in the background with nothing useful to contribute. 

@robin

Does that mean your guitar will be called “The Lurker” when it’s finished. The forum has been quiet recently so a lot of people seem to be in the same situation marking time and probably enjoyed this rare spell of warm weather.

So sorry to hear about your mom Robin… I hope your wife is doing well, take care!

@Rocknroller912 

"The Lurker" would've been a good name, but I've already made the decals for it. I've really stretched my imagination with this one and called it #002.

@mattbeels 

Thanks Matt, my wife is doing well for now, just recovered from her first round of chemo but not looking forward to the next one.

How many coat should I put on to build a decent thickness?

@robin Keep going with more coats yet Robin, you need at least 10, I would say. You will be flattening and polishing some of it off so you need a good build up of coats. 

And, I’m sorry to hear of your family problems. 

 Keep going with more coats yet Robin, you need at least 10, I would say.

Thanks @boo, I'll try to be patient and keep piling the coats on.