Popsicle stick guitar

Step 10 Finish

I used spray cans of clear plasti-coat.......wet sanded to 2000.......rubbed it out with black Color-Back car polish.......Works excellent..........

Comments

[mdog93]

did you use black car polish to try and add some contrast in the crack (between the sticks) and gaps etc like the grain? or just because it was the only colour you had

[busupholstery]

The polish is the only kind I could find here in Costa Rica that was kind of like Macquire's Swirl and scratch remover........It actually didn't affect the color at all........only removed the 2000 grit fine scratches.........works great......

[mdog93]

cool, i'd like to find a way to darken the tiny crack between the sticks and in the grain of the sticks so the grain and lines are enhanced. I might use a small amount of dark wood filler all over and try and rub it into all the nooks and crannys. Do you think that would work?

[dscrive]

there is an old woodworking technique you could try, it's called "rose barking"
you use fine dark powder, traditionally from sanding bark, to contrast grooves cut into a design, then seal the whole thing.

if you get some dark powder, coal dust, maybe graphite, dark saw dust, something of that nature, you could rub it over the surface filling in the cracks and the joints then when you sealed the wood you would have the contrast you are looking for.

[mdog93]

ok, sounds interesting, will it not just fall out though, even with the seal on?

[dscrive]

The wood sealer will soak through and act like a glue holding it in place.
you have to be a little careful though, if the cracks are to wide and you fill them to high with the dust when you put on the sealer it can pull some of the dust out.

[mdog93]

ok, i don't think this method or any will owrk on what i have already done, i think i glued them too tightly but, better that and it actually stays in one piece than it lookin nice, but not after it's fallen apart lol

[busupholstery]

You might try tinting the glue........

[mdog93]

yeah good idea. i'll do some practise runs. But i can't think of an easy way of tinting the glue apart from mixing some darker wood sawdust into it, but then i class that as a 'homemade wood filler' but anyways i can't think of a way for me to make enough saw dust to do that. also bearring in mind i have already made the front on the uke, that method couldn't be used for that piece and if it worked significantly well on the other pieces then it would look odd that they don't match. Godd ideas though, keep em coming- we got a great little 'stick orchestra' comin along with all these people sayin they're makein posicle and matchstick instruments :) i thiks it's awesome