My New Swirl finish

[movingpictures]

Just finished my first swirl for 2008! I had been using nitro laquer in a can previously, but bought a compressor/spray gun rig, and did this one in a 2 part poly. Dried in a day where the laquer took forever. The results were very positve for the first time. Some pics.....
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/movingpictures_photos/darkmaster1.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/movingpictures_photos/darkmaster2.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/movingpictures_photos/darlmaster3.jpg

Couple more finished 5-25-08
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/movingpictures_photos/GMC1.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/movingpictures_photos/GMC2.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/movingpictures_photos/OMC1.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/movingpictures_photos/OMC2.jpg

[Mike9]

Nice work - I've been wanting to try that technique, but haven't had the time. How many coats of clear did it take to make it smooth?

[Hamertoe]

Mmmmmm, chocolate! Nice work!

[Knuckles]

That looks like chocolatey swirl brownie goodness. Or Root Beer floatieness. Can you tell I haven't had lunch yet?

Seriously, great job!:dude

[JimmyD]

Total Pro job. Kudos to you. Peghead is awesome as well!!!

Jim

[movingpictures]

Thanks guys!! It does look kinda like a rootbeer float! haha. Ive done all those wild color finishes, and they are not for me. So i wanted something a bit more subtle.
The clear was 5 coats, which is significantly less that when i used the can laquer clear, but the finish is as thick, about 5 mils.

[scottlr]

I like the paint!

[atquinn]

Awesome!

-Austin

[GtrDr]

That's the coolest swirl! Really nice work.

[codeorama]

Looks great!

[Southbound]

I like it to, but have to ask...how the heck do you guys do that?

[mojocaster.com]

Great job! That looks awesome :)

[Jim S]

Nice!!!!!!!!!!

[Guitarman15]

awesome swirl

[sleepingtiger]

Not MY bag, but you did a great job! Congratulations!

Tony

[movingpictures]

I like it to, but have to ask...how the heck do you guys do that?

I do the colors by using oil based enamel paints, and pouring then into a tub of water, then mixing them together. The sealed body is lowered into the water, and as it goes in, the paint will stick to it. It took ALOT of experimenting to get the right kind of paint, and put in the right amount, in the right order. Plus there are only a couple guys who do it right, and they arent talking!! Its another creative outlet for me, and i earn some extra cash doing finishes for others.

[wrightdude]

excellent! has a cool "organic" look to me.... nice job!

[Structo]

I like a lot of the swirl jobs I have seen.
Yours looks great, like you say, on the subtle side.
Reminds me of the old bowling balls that were swirly.

Enamel paint huh?
Did you find any compatability problems when you used nitro clear?

[WrapAround]

You mix some Borax in the water as indicated in the link below, yes?

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/swirled.htm

[movingpictures]

I like a lot of the swirl jobs I have seen.
Yours looks great, like you say, on the subtle side.
Reminds me of the old bowling balls that were swirly.

Enamel paint huh?
Did you find any compatability problems when you used nitro clear?

No problems with Nitro, other than its cure time. Here is a strat done with Nitro....
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/movingpictures_photos/DSCF1504.jpg

[movingpictures]

You mix some Borax in the water as indicated in the link below, yes?

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/swirled.htm

Yes, although ive done it without, and it was about the same. I have learned that a little Naptha on top of the water helps. One of about 500 little things that make it work.

[atquinn]

Do you take the original finish off the body before doing this (assuming there is an original finish) or does the swirl go on top of the original finish?

-Austin

[crosse79]

Looks Real Great.

[jzgtrguy]

Looks like Tigers eye


http://www.twistedtree.org.uk/Tigers_Eye_2.JPG

[Kalalau Hiker]

good WORK - REALLY nice!

congrats! never thought of that color combo on a a swirl but I really like it!

[movingpictures]

Do you take the original finish off the body before doing this (assuming there is an original finish) or does the swirl go on top of the original finish?

-Austin
It really depends on the factory finish. If the body has alot of chips, then it gets sanded down to bare wood. If its still in good shape, i typically sand most of the clearcoat off and leave the rest intact. Ive found that the factory finish makes a very good seal, and to go to the bare wood is more work than is needed.

[dave19er]

you know what? I've never cared for the swirl finishes I've seen on other guitars - but those two in the thread are the first two I've ever seen that I really like - the color combinations are really cool - well, basically, they just look really cool. I REALLY dig 'em. My 5-year-old son, who just "helped" me build a bass parts-o-caster, just told me that your two guitars are "awesome! We should build our next guitar to look like that!"

I'd love to see some more! (and my son keeps asking to see more, too)

[rogue.guineapig]

mad skills, sir!

[astigtigas]

nice finish

[movingpictures]

you know what? I've never cared for the swirl finishes I've seen on other guitars - but those two in the thread are the first two I've ever seen that I really like - the color combinations are really cool - well, basically, they just look really cool. I REALLY dig 'em. My 5-year-old son, who just "helped" me build a bass parts-o-caster, just told me that your two guitars are "awesome! We should build our next guitar to look like that!"

I'd love to see some more! (and my son keeps asking to see more, too)
Here are a couple more to satsfy the boy!! lol Thanks for the post.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/movingpictures_photos/DSCF1595.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/movingpictures_photos/DSCF1281.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/movingpictures_photos/DSCF1552.jpg

[jmgman70]

Those are absolutely stunning guys!!!!

[dave19er]

Thanks for posting those - they're really cool. I'll be sure to show the kid when he gets home from daycare!

[TNJ]

I'd gig with ANY of those guitars...could you imagine a lighted stage and wielding those bad boyz!!!
Maybe you could do my Suhr Strat!
:cool:

S.
j

[brmc]

Dang dude! That looks really good!

[movingpictures]

recent pics added to top...

[5E3]

Excellent job! Congrats :AOK

[gixxerrock]

Those look really nice. Excellent job.