I’m with you Daniel. I faced a lotta difficult times with depression, disappointment and blaming myself that I f**** up. I just advise you: be sweet unto yourself, take extra care. Let your loved ones just care for you. I know how hard self love is when you’re such a perfectionist. You just crawled out of a deep canyon. Just relax a bit more. Take your time. You aren’t a failure, you’re strong and brave. This process is also honest for others that setbacks may occur. You’ll get there!
Daniel, your work is always just stunning. I wish I had the money to purchase a Nessa, it's just a phenomenal looking instrument. Hang in there man, you can recover. It's always a headache and stressful to have these things happen in our projects, I do a lot of woodworking and make a lot of mistakes, but it's important to recover and keep moving forward. This project is and will be amazing.
The search for perfection is a path full of pain, frustration, fear, insecurity, but also of learning. It took me a long time to understand this and be able to move forward. I started building instruments in 2003. To this day, I still have in my workshop some guitar bodies that were made at that time, but I decided not to continue with the project because I thought it wasn't good enough. This ate away at me for years. Today, I understand that each instrument, each project is a chapter. That everything may turn out well or there may be some accidents along the way. But that's okay, in the next chapter (or project), I'll know what not to do and move forward. I'm a fan of you Daniel. Keep doing what you do best: building excellent instruments! A big hug from Brazil.
Daniel- Please don’t let this get you down. It’s always been difficult to find the right solution to a problem the first time that you use a new product. Your technique and meticulous work are not the problem, just learning a new process is always tough. I spent many years as a prototype engineer, and saw this happen often. You a a fabulous engineer with tremendous skill and creativity. One guitar can’t take that away from you.
Hi Daniel, I battled severe depression and anxiety until I achieved what I feel is a victory over them a gew years ago. I know this is quite hard to do, but I find what helps me a lot when faced with the sort of disappointments you are having, is to try to take my focus away from the feelings and look at what has happened dispassionately. Then say to myself, how bad is this thing, in the entire scheme of life. At the same time I remind myself of the good things in my life, often just small things that are easily overlooked, but when added together can make life good. It is important for me to remind myself of life's blessings, and by focussing on them I can keep my mind more positive and am less likely to be really thrown off course mentally by mistakes or disappointments. Remember, in the big scheme of things, you have made a small mistake on an otherwise excellent build, that is relatively easy to correct, and you have learnt a good lesson from it, which you can take into future builds. Keep your chin up my friend, you are a good man doing good work 😊😊
We all make mistakes like this, but at the end of the day, it can be put right with a little time. Only through these mistakes can we learn. This is so valuable, when, in time you look back on this, you will have the experience of the knowledge of how your spraying techniques needed to be adapted, and how you can solve the problem should it ever arise in the future. I know very well how hard these can you hit you and pull you down and I don’t want to sound like some guy telling you tomorrow everything will be ok… it will take time, but it will be resolved and things will get better. Remember there are a lot of people out here who love seeing you do the things you do. We are all learning while watching you or dreaming that maybe, in another life we could do some of the things you do. There seems to be a lot of good advice, love and support in the comments. Stay strong my friend, you’re doing an awesome job there!!!
Daniel, we all make misstakes, it's a part of the human factor, I know you will fix this. Many years ago I dropped a Bahco quick clamp on the fretboard on one of my customers guitars that I had in for fretleveling, it was a 7000 Euro Gibson Les Paul Custom from 1973. My heart stopped for quite some time and i was in shock. After thinking for a few hours I did find a solution, either try to fill in the fretboard as good as possible to try to blend with the fretboard it self, or making a new fretboard. The customer was not mad at all and he wanted a new fretboard, we did discuss putting in new frets before we decided to just level the frets before my misstake. So that's what I did, of course all free of charge. The customer was very happy with the result and I learned a lesson and did some major changes in my workshop of how I do certain things when working on guitars. This did of course cost me quite some money even more time, because it's not just about finding any Ebony fretboard blank and put it on there, finding really old Ebony from the same era is really expensive and not simple. This is quite extreme compared to your misstake, but I just wanted to share my big big misstake that was caused by me, it just happened. Thanks for the video.. PS I have not made a misstake like that ever again after that.
I love the honesty in your videos. I actually think that if it always went perfectly, then i would not relate to it so much and might not be as enthused. Your reality (in terms of having to address issues in the build) is definitely my reality, and having you go through it and teach us how to resolve it all makes this compulsive viewing. I hope you enjoy a couple of weeks just you and The Phoenix, i look forward to the next video!
Keep on Daniel, the Phoenix it's a big challenge not only for what it represents for you, but also for the complexity of the build since you had to use for the first time some techniques that are out of your comfort zone. What happened is definitely frustrating, but I'm hundred percent sure you will recover it the best way.Just take your time and be confident because you are a true skilled artist.
Hi Daniel - I feel your pain! You have taught me a lot and inspired me to build my own designs and to set high standards. The more we care, the more it hurts. But sometimes things will go wrong - stuff happens. I have my own story from yesterday. I don't make videos, but post my builds on the Guitar Builders Collective - I know we have both been guests on the podcast. After watching your video, I decided to post details of what happened - basically a router bit came a bit loose and went too far into my guitar neck. I've posted pictures, if you wanted to see. Now I have a repair, which will be as good as new, but we all hate rework. Take care Daniel - catch up again soon.
The information that the community has given is correct. I would have suggested close to the same myself. You will learn and experience what we all have gone through in this process of guitar work. I wish you luck and better results the next go around. She will fly my friend; all Phoenix's do.
Daniel my heart goes out to you. To put that much work into something and then make a mistake. I don't know you but I do know that like your Phoenix you will rise to the occasion. It's just a setback.
I feel your pain but I applaud your honesty about the issues you've shared. Your strength to share proves that this guitar will end up stunning when it is finished.
Sad this has happened to you Daniel, finishing is always the hardest part! I understand you don't want to film the fixing of this problem, but from a truly selfish point of view I would be fascinated to see your repair process!
I’ve been there Daniel. Finishing is always challenging. There are so many things that are out of your control and can go wrong. This is always the most stressful part of my builds. You have a great plan and great attitude about it. Stick to the plan and in a few weeks you’ll be looking back and it won’t seem like such a setback.
We’ve all been there Daniel. I think you’re on the right track now. My process is 6-8 coats of primer. 3 a day max as you have said only sanding if necessary. Then a light wet sand with 1000 before applying the gloss. Don’t beat yourself up too much. It’s all part of the journey. It’s going to be a stunning piece when it’s finished. Look forward to seeing and hearing the final product of your hard work.
Finish sanding fuckups are the worst. I feel your pain. I'm not screwing around anymore. I finish with Z-Poxy and make it nice and thick. It just makes my life easier.
Like the sign on your shop wall says, "I'm not getting older, I'm getting better". Sometimes, undesirable things happen, but you learn from them and move on. Enjoy the work, whether it be a first attempt or fourth. I think we all appreciate your channel and meticulous approach to everything you do. You are a joy to watch. And remember, when you learn from experience, so do we. All the best to you sir.
Daniel, I feel every bit of your pain right now. It seems that all of a sudden, I have an issue come up on every build, whether it's with the finish, or on my latest build, having to completely relocate a floating bridge 1/4" further from the neck for intonation. I want to quit building about once a week. It's oddly comforting knowing that I'm not the only one who has difficulties like this come up. Much love, you'll get past this and I have no doubt that it will turn out beautifully.
I have done this a number of times. I have the tendency to over sand. It is very aggravating. I am working on my technique to avoid this type of issue. You will overcome this!
For a learning channel, the mishaps and how to overcome them are just as important, if not more important lessons, than when everything goes right. I have a sneaking suspicion that the final guitar will be just as awesome and only the builder (and we voyeurs) will know the journey. I can't imagine having others watch my every move on a build. We're still in there with you!
Hey Daniel, I’m sorry to see that accident. But every obstacle can be a lesson so don’t worry. Your work and your attention to detail is phenomenal (sometimes too much, if there’s such a thing 😀). Can’t wait to see the next steps of the project as I’m sure it’s going to be a stunning guitar!
Daniel, you do a great Work. I Like the Style of your Videos and i Hope, you find your way to go ahead. It ist great Pleasure to see you crafting. I Wish you all the best.🍀
I feel the pain sir!!! However, knowing your perfectionist attitude and your absolutely fastidious attention to detail, I have no doubt whatsoever that this instrument, when completed, will be as beautiful and exceptional as you envisaged! Stay cool Daniel, have a beer, go for a walk, listen to some music, take a breath - it will be fine! Look forward to seeing you when you get back! 🥰🥰🍺🍺🎸🎸😊😊
a few comments: 1. don't beat yourself up. you can nail the finish sanding 1000 times prior, and screw up at 1001. its the nature of the beast. failures happen, and are invariably inevitable. it is part of the process. learn from the mistakes that were made, and improve from them to minimize their chances of happening in the future. 2. on the StewMac YT channel, there is a 3 part series about guitar finishing by Driftwood Guitars. it may be worth taking a look at that as a refresher course on how to finish the guitar. I want to make it absolutely clear that I mean no disrespect in this suggestion. You are an accomplished guitar builder, and you have significantly more experience than I do in this field. that said, a refresher on the process never hurts, especially in light of this setback. the art of lutherie is a lifelong learning process, and you may pick up on some tips that make the next attempt at finishing easier, or learn something you didn't know that will improve the end result.
Hi Daniel. No one in this world goes through life without making mistakes. Don't beat yourself up over it. Remember that through mistakes, we learn and that is what our journeys are all about in this life, learning is the bigest part of that journey. You my friend are helping us, your viewers to learn and I thank you for that. Teke care.
We all share your pain. It's hard to appreciate the amazing quality of the instrument you are building when you make a small mistake, but you'll overcome it, learn from it, and add another chapter to the story of the guitar. Take your time and look after yourself. Your journey is an inspiration.
Setbacks are part of this building process. (It wouldn't be a true phoenix without some problems to overcome along the way, would it?) I'm having finishing issues with a couple of my builds right now as well, so you aren't alone. But it isn't a disaster. Your build is fantastic up to this point and it will be fantastic when it is done too. It's a good thing in this case that you are working with nitro lacquer. Since the layers melt together, you should be able to repair the finish, as you mentioned, without any significant issues. It WILL all work out eventually. It's unfortunate that the timing will impact the guitar show. I find that trying to meet a tight deadline like that makes me rush things more than I should, and that's when these types of issues are most likely to pop up. Looking forward to seeing the Phoenix in all its glory when it makes its return.
Daniel you scared me so bad that i tought you sand through the finish at the front side and that beautifull stain job is damaged. But thankfully its only at the sides and back. I learned a lot of things from you, without your videos i woudnt be able to do many things i am capable of now. You have all my best wishes and support on anything you do. Your current plan about the finish sound perfect. Maybe you might upgrade to a proper paint gun system in future. Take good care od yourself :)
Dear Daniel, I think you are a person that wants to have 120% of perfection. This produces a lot of pressure. And this is hard to handle. One thought could be make a virtue of necessity. What I want to say is, take this as a chance to think about on this guitar to try making a soft aged version out of it. On your next build you can apply your new made experiences on how to get a better coating. Maybe you think about this. No matter how you decide to move on I wish you the very best on your plans. Kind regards
Also, if you have not tried dry sanding with the Super Assilex sandpaper from eagle abrasives, I highly recommend using them. They leave a much finer scratch pattern and so you remove less material and it goes a little faster going through all the grits.
So far I have never gotton it right the first time. Finishing is by far the hardest part of building guitars. I'm building one right now that has stripes and I'm on my fourth try. With lacquer I would apply at least 25 coats of clear and it needs 30 days to harden before you can level and polish.
What a great and incredibly instructive video! And Uggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh…. I feel your pain. I do that so often I changed the entire aesthetic of the guitars I make to include it in the overall look. Thank God my customers dig relics. lol Take a rest, dust yourself off and go for it again.
Don’t worry Daniel, we all fuck up don’t get stressed it looks fantastic you should see the state of the one I made. I didn’t even lacquer it,I just wanted to see if it would work😂😂😂
Have to agree with comments already made. Your work and commitment to guitar building are second to non. As a comment already says, we all make mistakes, though I don't think it's major and you are being overtly hard on yourself. Love watching your uploads and the knowledge you put forward in them. Onwards and upwards. Regards from England
Keep up the good work Daniel… you’re an inspiration to me and I have learned so much from you. Finishing, to me, is the most difficult part of guitar building… so I feel your pain. But… take some time, walk away from it for a bit and then get back to the beautiful guitar you have built, and finish it like you know you can do! Cheers Daniel…
I wouldn't bother with primer mate as long as the sand-through areas are smooth, just dump another 2 cans of clear over it and try to avoid level sanding between coats. Realistically a guitar like that is going to take at least 6-7 cans of lacquer to get good coverage all over. People don't realise but there is actually very little paint in those cans. Typically I will get through half a tin (0.5L) of paint before thinning 50/50 so I'm spraying at least 1L of thinned material over a guitar with a spray gun which is a lot better at keeping the material on the work than a rattle can.
I find lacquer daunting and I’m not as experienced as you. There is a luthier in Canada Fred Gaerzak he is an absolute master ! He recommends up to 20 coats of clear seems like overkill but It worked for me. There’s nothing wrong with staying with hard wax oils hang in there !
Massive bummer Daniel. I've been shooting gloss finishes on guitars for over 25 years and it still happens to me every so often. Just a couple days ago in fact. And it really does just ruin the day. Once I get past thinking about what a massive pain in the butt it will be to touch up, in this case a sun burst, and shoot two more coats of clear on it all. I just do it, it will look great and all will be well. My next project will be a hippy wood guitar or bass with an Osmo finish.
I hate when this happens. Maybe you should try using 2K Max in a spray can. After this stuff dries, you can take a grinder to the surface and you will not sand through! Dries very fast! Thanks for video!!
I use House of Color polyurethane clear. with a spray gun now. It goes on smoother and with a hardener. it is far superior ! Thinner, shinier It doesn't yellow and is twice as durable . I have had nothing but trouble with lacquer. with spray gun or otherwise. Poly clears come as a water base as well from other manufactures A spray gun is much better.
I spray 20+ coats on a guitar = at least 10 cans. All that on top of a grain filler. BTW You just need to denibb the surface between coats. Problem with rattlecans is you can't get it on wet enough. It's always going to be a bit of a struggle. Don't think of it as a finish rescue it's just part of finishing process. Happens to me all the time.
That is not bad mistake at all. Positive thing is that you didn't sand through the stain. Usually i spray 3 coats with 20min wait time between and level sand after 24h with 600 grit and continue when i feel that there is enough clear for final level/polish/buffing.
I feel/ share your pain - I've had this happen to me before as well. I used to do finish much as you did - a coat per day - but I've moved towards multiple as per your reading. It is more efficient and I think it does end up being a tougher finish. With the mahogany soaking up the finish - have you ever thought about using a sanding sealer prior to the primer? (I'm not familiar with the brand you're using and it may not fill the pores as well as a dedicated sealer)
Hey vakman, issue, mistake, ik noem het enorme pech, en ik weet zeker dat je juiste deze tot een mooi resultaat krijgt. Net als voor jezelf, vallen en opstaan, small steps. Hou vol 👊🏻
Hallo Daniël, allereerst gefeliciteerd met je toffe kanaal op UA-cam! Een vraag: gebruik je nog steeds het Proxxon zaagtafeltje om de fretten in te zagen? Wat is je ervaring op de nu langere termijn met deze methode? Ik zag je video waarin je de machine demonstreert, en op basis van jouw enthousiaste video overweeg ik om die Proxxon machine ook te kopen. Als je me dat nog altijd zou aanraden natuurlijk? Groeten van een collega uit Spanje, Jasper (Aspe Guitars, vroeger in Arnhem gevestigd)
Heel erg bedankt voor het compliment. Ik gebruik de Proxxon zaagtafel nog steeds en ik kan eerlijk zeggen dat het voor mij echt perfect werkt. Het is een kleine handzame machine, die dus niet in de weg staat als je een kleine werkplaats hebt, sterk en precies genoeg voor het zagen van de fretslots. Het enige kleine nadeel vind ik dat de zaagjes die geschikt zijn voor het zagen van fretslots een erg kleine diameter hebben, slechts 50mm. Hierdoor kan het ‘onderblad’ van de slede niet te dik zijn, anders haal je de gewenste diepte voor de slots niet. Misschien als ik wat beter zou zoeken ik wel zaagbladen kan vinden met een grotere diameter, maar dat heb ik nog niet gedaan. Als je om dit kleine nadeel heen kan werken is het zeker de moeite waard om het eens te proberen. Succes!
@UnquendorGuitars Tof, dankje! Ik schreef ook nog een lang bericht over lakken, maar dat zie ik niet meer. Samengevat: we stoeien allemaal met de moeilijkheden met lakken af en toe. Ik heb er heel veel ervaring mee, mocht je het leuk vinden om er ervaringen over uit te wisselen, laat maar horen. Nogmaals bedankt voor je antwoord.
Thank you very much for asking…. To be honest I’m getting there and I try very hard to keep my spirit up and hopefully I’m able to get back in the swing of things soon. On one hand I really want to o make videos and do livestreams, but find it really hard to come up with topics and as soon as I set foot in the workshop I find it very hard to concentrate and to get started. But I keep trying and have been able to re-spray the Phoenix guitar and did some small projects of camera. I have high hopes that once the Phoenix is ready for polishing and final assembly things will go better. Again thank you very much for your concern and your support..
Sorry man ,my heart aches for you.hang in ,at least it didn’t happen on the burst. You ll figure it out , I know you can ,just go back and do exactly the same spray process to catchup with the top.
It's a shame this happened. I don't agree with their finishing schedule. Any other nitro is sprayed 3 coats per day, one hour between coats, with no sanding in between except to remove dirt or imperfections. Orange peel is not an imperfection at this point. If you're spraying super thin coats, you should have 9 to 12 coats built up before letting it cure for at least 2 weeks. Then you sand only enough to remove the orange peel and then polish. I think trying to sand in between coats to remove orange peel and make it completely smooth made your finish too thin. This is exasperated by the finish shrinking during the curing time which makes it thinner. Hope this helps. Only trying to give you some constructive criticism.
I know it's a pain in the ass, but think about the experience you're making about a process you've never done before. This is very unlikely to happen to you again. Now you see it as a failure, but it's a win.
So.. I just stained my strat body with a RIT Red dye.. and I was afraid of the same thing.. SOOOOoooo, my first 10 coats of lacquer.. was THICK! I waited a week.. wet sanded.. and ONLY a few little spots. when I went to wipe off with a white paper towel, you could see the slightest red on the towel.. NOT BAD!! So.. I had a few bubbles or low sports.. I scratched them with a little razor blade.. and sprayed another 5 or so coats.. now I am about to finish my finial sand. WE SHALL SEE!! ;-)
DANIEL, YOU WILL FIND THE WAY... NEVER GIVE UP!!!
I’m with you Daniel. I faced a lotta difficult times with depression, disappointment and blaming myself that I f**** up. I just advise you: be sweet unto yourself, take extra care. Let your loved ones just care for you. I know how hard self love is when you’re such a perfectionist. You just crawled out of a deep canyon. Just relax a bit more. Take your time. You aren’t a failure, you’re strong and brave. This process is also honest for others that setbacks may occur. You’ll get there!
Daniel, your work is always just stunning. I wish I had the money to purchase a Nessa, it's just a phenomenal looking instrument. Hang in there man, you can recover. It's always a headache and stressful to have these things happen in our projects, I do a lot of woodworking and make a lot of mistakes, but it's important to recover and keep moving forward.
This project is and will be amazing.
The search for perfection is a path full of pain, frustration, fear, insecurity, but also of learning.
It took me a long time to understand this and be able to move forward.
I started building instruments in 2003. To this day, I still have in my workshop some guitar bodies that were made at that time, but I decided not to continue with the project because I thought it wasn't good enough.
This ate away at me for years. Today, I understand that each instrument, each project is a chapter. That everything may turn out well or there may be some accidents along the way. But that's okay, in the next chapter (or project), I'll know what not to do and move forward.
I'm a fan of you Daniel. Keep doing what you do best: building excellent instruments!
A big hug from Brazil.
Daniel- Please don’t let this get you down. It’s always been difficult to find the right solution to a problem the first time that you use a new product. Your technique and meticulous work are not the problem, just learning a new process is always tough. I spent many years as a prototype engineer, and saw this happen often. You a a fabulous engineer with tremendous skill and creativity. One guitar can’t take that away from you.
Hi Daniel, I battled severe depression and anxiety until I achieved what I feel is a victory over them a gew years ago.
I know this is quite hard to do, but I find what helps me a lot when faced with the sort of disappointments you are having, is to try to take my focus away from the feelings and look at what has happened dispassionately. Then say to myself, how bad is this thing, in the entire scheme of life. At the same time I remind myself of the good things in my life, often just small things that are easily overlooked, but when added together can make life good. It is important for me to remind myself of life's blessings, and by focussing on them I can keep my mind more positive and am less likely to be really thrown off course mentally by mistakes or disappointments.
Remember, in the big scheme of things, you have made a small mistake on an otherwise excellent build, that is relatively easy to correct, and you have learnt a good lesson from it, which you can take into future builds.
Keep your chin up my friend, you are a good man doing good work 😊😊
We all make mistakes like this, but at the end of the day, it can be put right with a little time. Only through these mistakes can we learn. This is so valuable, when, in time you look back on this, you will have the experience of the knowledge of how your spraying techniques needed to be adapted, and how you can solve the problem should it ever arise in the future. I know very well how hard these can you hit you and pull you down and I don’t want to sound like some guy telling you tomorrow everything will be ok… it will take time, but it will be resolved and things will get better.
Remember there are a lot of people out here who love seeing you do the things you do. We are all learning while watching you or dreaming that maybe, in another life we could do some of the things you do. There seems to be a lot of good advice, love and support in the comments. Stay strong my friend, you’re doing an awesome job there!!!
Daniel, we all make misstakes, it's a part of the human factor, I know you will fix this. Many years ago I dropped a Bahco quick clamp on the fretboard on one of my customers guitars that I had in for fretleveling, it was a 7000 Euro Gibson Les Paul Custom from 1973. My heart stopped for quite some time and i was in shock. After thinking for a few hours I did find a solution, either try to fill in the fretboard as good as possible to try to blend with the fretboard it self, or making a new fretboard. The customer was not mad at all and he wanted a new fretboard, we did discuss putting in new frets before we decided to just level the frets before my misstake. So that's what I did, of course all free of charge. The customer was very happy with the result and I learned a lesson and did some major changes in my workshop of how I do certain things when working on guitars. This did of course cost me quite some money even more time, because it's not just about finding any Ebony fretboard blank and put it on there, finding really old Ebony from the same era is really expensive and not simple. This is quite extreme compared to your misstake, but I just wanted to share my big big misstake that was caused by me, it just happened. Thanks for the video.. PS I have not made a misstake like that ever again after that.
I love the honesty in your videos. I actually think that if it always went perfectly, then i would not relate to it so much and might not be as enthused. Your reality (in terms of having to address issues in the build) is definitely my reality, and having you go through it and teach us how to resolve it all makes this compulsive viewing. I hope you enjoy a couple of weeks just you and The Phoenix, i look forward to the next video!
My friend. I feel your pain. I have been there too. Sending many positive thoughts your way to aid your swift recovery.
Keep on Daniel, the Phoenix it's a big challenge not only for what it represents for you, but also for the complexity of the build since you had to use for the first time some techniques that are out of your comfort zone.
What happened is definitely frustrating, but I'm hundred percent sure you will recover it the best way.Just take your time and be confident because you are a true skilled artist.
Hi Daniel - I feel your pain! You have taught me a lot and inspired me to build my own designs and to set high standards. The more we care, the more it hurts. But sometimes things will go wrong - stuff happens. I have my own story from yesterday. I don't make videos, but post my builds on the Guitar Builders Collective - I know we have both been guests on the podcast. After watching your video, I decided to post details of what happened - basically a router bit came a bit loose and went too far into my guitar neck. I've posted pictures, if you wanted to see. Now I have a repair, which will be as good as new, but we all hate rework. Take care Daniel - catch up again soon.
The information that the community has given is correct. I would have suggested close to the same myself. You will learn and experience what we all have gone through in this process of guitar work. I wish you luck and better results the next go around. She will fly my friend; all Phoenix's do.
Daniel my heart goes out to you. To put that much work into something and then make a mistake. I don't know you but I do know that like your Phoenix you will rise to the occasion. It's just a setback.
That is so frustrating. I don't know how many times that has happened to me. Urgle burgle! Beautiful designs.
I feel your pain but I applaud your honesty about the issues you've shared. Your strength to share proves that this guitar will end up stunning when it is finished.
Sad this has happened to you Daniel, finishing is always the hardest part! I understand you don't want to film the fixing of this problem, but from a truly selfish point of view I would be fascinated to see your repair process!
I’ve been there Daniel. Finishing is always challenging. There are so many things that are out of your control and can go wrong. This is always the most stressful part of my builds. You have a great plan and great attitude about it. Stick to the plan and in a few weeks you’ll be looking back and it won’t seem like such a setback.
I've done exactly this too. Feel for you buddy. Chin up, fate requires the phoenix to have a little more attention, that's all. We live we learn.
We’ve all been there Daniel. I think you’re on the right track now. My process is 6-8 coats of primer. 3 a day max as you have said only sanding if necessary. Then a light wet sand with 1000 before applying the gloss.
Don’t beat yourself up too much. It’s all part of the journey. It’s going to be a stunning piece when it’s finished. Look forward to seeing and hearing the final product of your hard work.
Daniel, Keep your head up!! The Phoenix will rise!!
Finish sanding fuckups are the worst. I feel your pain. I'm not screwing around anymore. I finish with Z-Poxy and make it nice and thick. It just makes my life easier.
Like the sign on your shop wall says, "I'm not getting older, I'm getting better". Sometimes, undesirable things happen, but you learn from them and move on. Enjoy the work, whether it be a first attempt or fourth. I think we all appreciate your channel and meticulous approach to everything you do. You are a joy to watch. And remember, when you learn from experience, so do we. All the best to you sir.
You’re still rising 🙌
Daniel, I feel every bit of your pain right now. It seems that all of a sudden, I have an issue come up on every build, whether it's with the finish, or on my latest build, having to completely relocate a floating bridge 1/4" further from the neck for intonation. I want to quit building about once a week. It's oddly comforting knowing that I'm not the only one who has difficulties like this come up. Much love, you'll get past this and I have no doubt that it will turn out beautifully.
I have done this a number of times. I have the tendency to over sand. It is very aggravating. I am working on my technique to avoid this type of issue. You will overcome this!
For a learning channel, the mishaps and how to overcome them are just as important, if not more important lessons, than when everything goes right. I have a sneaking suspicion that the final guitar will be just as awesome and only the builder (and we voyeurs) will know the journey. I can't imagine having others watch my every move on a build. We're still in there with you!
Hey Daniel, I’m sorry to see that accident. But every obstacle can be a lesson so don’t worry. Your work and your attention to detail is phenomenal (sometimes too much, if there’s such a thing 😀).
Can’t wait to see the next steps of the project as I’m sure it’s going to be a stunning guitar!
Daniel, you do a great Work. I Like the Style of your Videos and i Hope, you find your way to go ahead. It ist great Pleasure to see you crafting. I Wish you all the best.🍀
Every recovery has a setback. 2 steps forward, 1 step back. We love what you do Daniel, keep it up!
So sorry this happened to you , Daniel !! I am rooting for you !!
I feel the pain sir!!!
However, knowing your perfectionist attitude and your absolutely fastidious attention to detail, I have no doubt whatsoever that this instrument, when completed, will be as beautiful and exceptional as you envisaged!
Stay cool Daniel, have a beer, go for a walk, listen to some music, take a breath - it will be fine!
Look forward to seeing you when you get back! 🥰🥰🍺🍺🎸🎸😊😊
Using a real spray gun with an air compressor helps too. A lot easier and better results than rattle cans.
a few comments:
1. don't beat yourself up. you can nail the finish sanding 1000 times prior, and screw up at 1001. its the nature of the beast. failures happen, and are invariably inevitable. it is part of the process. learn from the mistakes that were made, and improve from them to minimize their chances of happening in the future.
2. on the StewMac YT channel, there is a 3 part series about guitar finishing by Driftwood Guitars. it may be worth taking a look at that as a refresher course on how to finish the guitar. I want to make it absolutely clear that I mean no disrespect in this suggestion. You are an accomplished guitar builder, and you have significantly more experience than I do in this field. that said, a refresher on the process never hurts, especially in light of this setback. the art of lutherie is a lifelong learning process, and you may pick up on some tips that make the next attempt at finishing easier, or learn something you didn't know that will improve the end result.
Hi Daniel. No one in this world goes through life without making mistakes. Don't beat yourself up over it. Remember that through mistakes, we learn and that is what our journeys are all about in this life, learning is the bigest part of that journey. You my friend are helping us, your viewers to learn and I thank you for that. Teke care.
😊😊
We all share your pain. It's hard to appreciate the amazing quality of the instrument you are building when you make a small mistake, but you'll overcome it, learn from it, and add another chapter to the story of the guitar. Take your time and look after yourself. Your journey is an inspiration.
Setbacks are part of this building process. (It wouldn't be a true phoenix without some problems to overcome along the way, would it?) I'm having finishing issues with a couple of my builds right now as well, so you aren't alone. But it isn't a disaster. Your build is fantastic up to this point and it will be fantastic when it is done too.
It's a good thing in this case that you are working with nitro lacquer. Since the layers melt together, you should be able to repair the finish, as you mentioned, without any significant issues. It WILL all work out eventually. It's unfortunate that the timing will impact the guitar show. I find that trying to meet a tight deadline like that makes me rush things more than I should, and that's when these types of issues are most likely to pop up.
Looking forward to seeing the Phoenix in all its glory when it makes its return.
Daniel you scared me so bad that i tought you sand through the finish at the front side and that beautifull stain job is damaged. But thankfully its only at the sides and back. I learned a lot of things from you, without your videos i woudnt be able to do many things i am capable of now. You have all my best wishes and support on anything you do. Your current plan about the finish sound perfect. Maybe you might upgrade to a proper paint gun system in future. Take good care od yourself :)
Dear Daniel, I think you are a person that wants to have 120% of perfection. This produces a lot of pressure. And this is hard to handle. One thought could be make a virtue of necessity. What I want to say is, take this as a chance to think about on this guitar to try making a soft aged version out of it. On your next build you can apply your new made experiences on how to get a better coating. Maybe you think about this. No matter how you decide to move on I wish you the very best on your plans. Kind regards
Also, if you have not tried dry sanding with the Super Assilex sandpaper from eagle abrasives, I highly recommend using them. They leave a much finer scratch pattern and so you remove less material and it goes a little faster going through all the grits.
Thank you for your continuous posting. Even it went terribly wrong!!Good luck the rescue - it will be worth it! 👍
So far I have never gotton it right the first time. Finishing is by far the hardest part of building guitars. I'm building one right now that has stripes and I'm on my fourth try. With lacquer I would apply at least 25 coats of clear and it needs 30 days to harden before you can level and polish.
What a great and incredibly instructive video! And Uggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh…. I feel your pain. I do that so often I changed the entire aesthetic of the guitars I make to include it in the overall look. Thank God my customers dig relics. lol Take a rest, dust yourself off and go for it again.
Don’t worry Daniel, we all fuck up don’t get stressed it looks fantastic you should see the state of the one I made. I didn’t even lacquer it,I just wanted to see if it would work😂😂😂
Have to agree with comments already made. Your work and commitment to guitar building are second to non. As a comment already says, we all make mistakes, though I don't think it's major and you are being overtly hard on yourself. Love watching your uploads and the knowledge you put forward in them. Onwards and upwards. Regards from England
Keep up the good work Daniel… you’re an inspiration to me and I have learned so much from you. Finishing, to me, is the most difficult part of guitar building… so I feel your pain. But… take some time, walk away from it for a bit and then get back to the beautiful guitar you have built, and finish it like you know you can do! Cheers Daniel…
Hi Daniel, please keep going! Don’t be so hard on yourself, the guitar will be perfect in the end! I love your content
I wouldn't bother with primer mate as long as the sand-through areas are smooth, just dump another 2 cans of clear over it and try to avoid level sanding between coats. Realistically a guitar like that is going to take at least 6-7 cans of lacquer to get good coverage all over. People don't realise but there is actually very little paint in those cans. Typically I will get through half a tin (0.5L) of paint before thinning 50/50 so I'm spraying at least 1L of thinned material over a guitar with a spray gun which is a lot better at keeping the material on the work than a rattle can.
How are you doing, my friend? I love your shop.
I find lacquer daunting and I’m not as experienced as you.
There is a luthier in Canada Fred Gaerzak he is an absolute master ! He recommends up to 20 coats of clear seems like overkill but It worked for me.
There’s nothing wrong with staying with hard wax oils hang in there !
Massive bummer Daniel. I've been shooting gloss finishes on guitars for over 25 years and it still happens to me every so often. Just a couple days ago in fact. And it really does just ruin the day. Once I get past thinking about what a massive pain in the butt it will be to touch up, in this case a sun burst, and shoot two more coats of clear on it all. I just do it, it will look great and all will be well. My next project will be a hippy wood guitar or bass with an Osmo finish.
I hate when this happens. Maybe you should try using 2K Max in a spray can. After this stuff dries, you can take a grinder to the surface and you will not sand through! Dries very fast! Thanks for video!!
I like Spray Maxx 2K, it's pretty forgiving, I've done a couple of guitars and a motorcycle with it with pretty OEM looking results from a spay can.
I use House of Color polyurethane clear. with a spray gun now. It goes on smoother and with a hardener. it is far superior ! Thinner, shinier It doesn't yellow and is twice as durable . I have had nothing but trouble with lacquer. with spray gun or otherwise. Poly clears come as a water base as well from other manufactures A spray gun is much better.
Oh nee 😢. I think you are taking the right path to re-finish the guitar. Good luck and it will be alright.
I spray 20+ coats on a guitar = at least 10 cans. All that on top of a grain filler. BTW You just need to denibb the surface between coats. Problem with rattlecans is you can't get it on wet enough. It's always going to be a bit of a struggle. Don't think of it as a finish rescue it's just part of finishing process. Happens to me all the time.
That is not bad mistake at all. Positive thing is that you didn't sand through the stain. Usually i spray 3 coats with 20min wait time between and level sand after 24h with 600 grit and continue when i feel that there is enough clear for final level/polish/buffing.
It's a bit like you set your self up for these things. Don't worry about it, there are more important things than the finish of a guitar
I feel/ share your pain - I've had this happen to me before as well.
I used to do finish much as you did - a coat per day - but I've moved towards multiple as per your reading.
It is more efficient and I think it does end up being a tougher finish.
With the mahogany soaking up the finish - have you ever thought about using a sanding sealer prior to the primer? (I'm not familiar with the brand you're using and it may not fill the pores as well as a dedicated sealer)
Это называется - опыт. Ты крутой чувак, Дениэл. Я тебя уважаю. Привет из Украины.
Hey vakman, issue, mistake, ik noem het enorme pech, en ik weet zeker dat je juiste deze tot een mooi resultaat krijgt. Net als voor jezelf, vallen en opstaan, small steps. Hou vol 👊🏻
Opportunity to apply that extra yellow to the centre....
As Bob Ross said, “Happy accidents.”
Ánimo, hombre! Siempre se poner peor...
See you on the other side Daniel
Hallo Daniël, allereerst gefeliciteerd met je toffe kanaal op UA-cam!
Een vraag: gebruik je nog steeds het Proxxon zaagtafeltje om de fretten in te zagen?
Wat is je ervaring op de nu langere termijn met deze methode?
Ik zag je video waarin je de machine demonstreert, en op basis van jouw enthousiaste video overweeg ik om die Proxxon machine ook te kopen. Als je me dat nog altijd zou aanraden natuurlijk?
Groeten van een collega uit Spanje, Jasper (Aspe Guitars, vroeger in Arnhem gevestigd)
Heel erg bedankt voor het compliment.
Ik gebruik de Proxxon zaagtafel nog steeds en ik kan eerlijk zeggen dat het voor mij echt perfect werkt.
Het is een kleine handzame machine, die dus niet in de weg staat als je een kleine werkplaats hebt, sterk en precies genoeg voor het zagen van de fretslots.
Het enige kleine nadeel vind ik dat de zaagjes die geschikt zijn voor het zagen van fretslots een erg kleine diameter hebben, slechts 50mm.
Hierdoor kan het ‘onderblad’ van de slede niet te dik zijn, anders haal je de gewenste diepte voor de slots niet.
Misschien als ik wat beter zou zoeken ik wel zaagbladen kan vinden met een grotere diameter, maar dat heb ik nog niet gedaan.
Als je om dit kleine nadeel heen kan werken is het zeker de moeite waard om het eens te proberen.
Succes!
@UnquendorGuitars Tof, dankje! Ik schreef ook nog een lang bericht over lakken, maar dat zie ik niet meer. Samengevat: we stoeien allemaal met de moeilijkheden met lakken af en toe. Ik heb er heel veel ervaring mee, mocht je het leuk vinden om er ervaringen over uit te wisselen, laat maar horen.
Nogmaals bedankt voor je antwoord.
@kayasper6081
Oh wat vreemd dat je andere bericht niet meer zichtbaar is,maar ik weet je nu te vinden. 👍
How you doing Daniel?,Hope you are ok👍
Thank you very much for asking….
To be honest I’m getting there and I try very hard to keep my spirit up and hopefully I’m able to get back in the swing of things soon.
On one hand I really want to o make videos and do livestreams, but find it really hard to come up with topics and as soon as I set foot in the workshop I find it very hard to concentrate and to get started.
But I keep trying and have been able to re-spray the Phoenix guitar and did some small projects of camera. I have high hopes that once the Phoenix is ready for polishing and final assembly things will go better.
Again thank you very much for your concern and your support..
@@UnquendorGuitars Good stuff,,take your time👍👍
Sorry man ,my heart aches for you.hang in ,at least it didn’t happen on the burst. You ll figure it out , I know you can ,just go back and do exactly the same spray process to catchup with the top.
That sucks massively. But I am sure that it will be even better on the next try!
It's a shame this happened. I don't agree with their finishing schedule. Any other nitro is sprayed 3 coats per day, one hour between coats, with no sanding in between except to remove dirt or imperfections. Orange peel is not an imperfection at this point. If you're spraying super thin coats, you should have 9 to 12 coats built up before letting it cure for at least 2 weeks. Then you sand only enough to remove the orange peel and then polish. I think trying to sand in between coats to remove orange peel and make it completely smooth made your finish too thin. This is exasperated by the finish shrinking during the curing time which makes it thinner. Hope this helps. Only trying to give you some constructive criticism.
Hou vol!
I know it's a pain in the ass, but think about the experience you're making about a process you've never done before. This is very unlikely to happen to you again. Now you see it as a failure, but it's a win.
Nitro SUCKS!
So.. I just stained my strat body with a RIT Red dye.. and I was afraid of the same thing.. SOOOOoooo, my first 10 coats of lacquer.. was THICK! I waited a week.. wet sanded.. and ONLY a few little spots. when I went to wipe off with a white paper towel, you could see the slightest red on the towel.. NOT BAD!! So.. I had a few bubbles or low sports.. I scratched them with a little razor blade.. and sprayed another 5 or so coats.. now I am about to finish my finial sand. WE SHALL SEE!! ;-)