Sunburst Finish Question

[Matt Haugen]

Hi all. I am going to be attempting my very first sunburst finish in the upcoming weeks. In preparation I will be ordering Guitar Finishing Step-By-Step from Stew Mac, along with either the ColorTone Concentrated Liquid Stains or the ColorTone Tinted Aerosol Guitar Lacquer. I have 2 questions. The first is; I was wondering if anyone had used either of these products before and if so, which did you prefer and why. Second question is about the binding. When a sunburst finish is done how do you deal with the soundboard binding? I have always wondered. Is the binding put on after the finish has been done, or is it scraped clean afterward? I don't know if this will be covered in the book I will be ordering, so I figured I would ask you fine Gents. Also, if you thinnk another book would be more helpful, I am open to any suggestions.

[FRANK]

tape over the binding it is done b4 the color or any lacquer is on do the binding scrape flush hit with nitro callous wash coat a few thick coats and then start your color 4 layers deep or so

[Matt Haugen]

Thanks Paul. I don't know why taping the binding didn't occur to me.

[William F.Eden]

Stringer I would agree with Paul except I spray a coat of Lacquer on the top first so the masking don't pull out the fibers of the spruce when you take it off then mask the rosett and bindings and I like the color tone stain myself you can put it right into the Lacquer a drop at a time until you are happy with the color you want.If you make your colors a little darker than you want you don't have to put on so many coats.I have the book you are talking about and other than telling you some of the different colors of different makers I myself did not find it all that help full. But you may read something in there that you were not aware of it is a good book to have. You can't beat practice. P.S. when I go to start the finishing of an Instrument I mask the top& back and put the finish on the sides first then I mask the sides & do the back then finish the top.As I do the sunburst I seal in each color with a lite coat of lacquer it helps to fade in the over spray. Good luck on your project. Bill."""""""" [the tuners are on the way]