Wudtone finishes

[GnLguy]

I came across a finishing product called Wudtone that I plan to try on a couple of projects. Depending on which kit you buy, its between $20 – $55 to finish a guitar and its done without expensive spraying equipment. There are 3-4 companies here in the states selling it and they have vendors in various countries as well Everything from solid colors to bursts.
It saves a lot of time and work b/c the wood doesn’t need sanding sealer or wood grain fillers. The demo video is a Strat body being stained Azure Lagoon , a nice blue and each coat is more pronounce. What I really like is that it lets the wood grain show through so if you have very well grained ash body or a book matched top, it will turn out really well.
I have a semi hollow Tele body that I bought at a guitar show in Columbus Ohio that the top is Western Big Leaf Maple and I’ve been holding off until I found just the right finish for it. It will be my 2nd project b/c I have a Strat body that I will use as my learning project.

Use the 2nd link below and check out the videos

http://www.wudtoneusa.com/

http://www.wudtoneusa.com/videos/

[6stringer Pete]

I like this one:

http://www.wudtoneusa.com/product/carmine-gypsy/

The melody of the notes is what expresses the art of music . 🙂 6stringerPete

It really is all about ”melody”. The melody comes from a language from our heart. Our heart is the muscle in music harmony. The melody is the sweetness that it pumps into our musical thoughts on the fretboard. 🙂 6 stringer Pete

Pete
Active Melody
Forum Moderator

[fresnojohns]

I have thought about doing some finishing my self in the future. I have been an auto body painter, boat painter, aircraft painter, and pinstriper. I have also used all kinds of finishes too. Everything from nitro lacquer to full blown poly urethane paints. And you want to know what I think of this stuff???????????????????????

After watching the videos, I think this finishing system is great. As the photos are beautiful!!!!!! I am not a celebrity painter from the stupid reality shows, that stuff is not all accurate!!!!!!!!!! I have learned from others as well being self taught and made tons and tons of mistakes!!! Spraying can be easy but its everything else that goes with it that is scary.

You hit on a subject I like so here I go, I promise not to type too much.

A cheaper gravity feed paint gun maybe $35. Harbor Freight. they work great.
A good quality Sharpe of Iwata, or Binks, or DeVelbiss, Sata gun………….$100. to $500.
When buying a good gun most painters have one for primer, one for paint, and one for clear!!!!!

Compressor, Anywhere from $100. to $1000.
You get what you pay for depending the use.

Airbrushes, Paasche suction feed from $60. to Iwata to $400….Most guys use Iwata

I am skipping the power tool thing as there are many variations of sanders, electric or air powered.

Now the big ticket items: Its called paint
Paints are so pricey these days its sad. Using auto type paints to learn to spray on anything the last 10 or so years will max out your credit card. Using most paints these days its not a good idea to mix brands, as many are not compatable anymore. Also when you make a mistake painting, and its the paint stores fault no matter who you are, you get screwed on the labor, and even the price of paint. Think of it this way, what if you worked on a job for a few weeks and the climate changed alittle bit, and the clear wrinkles your beautiful candy/pearl les paul that you are already losing money on?????????????????? yes you flop on the floor and cry!!!!!! Or the idiot customer is too picky and you got to do it over. Good thing its not a BMW. You will cry for a day and then go to the bar, and then join a weird commune in the hills?????? Almost been to that one.LOLOLOLOL

When spraying paint aside from the nasty fumes, you need a dust free room. And also the climate plays a big part too. Plus the new paints need to be buffed out with a machine. Another big expense. And you can mess up using a buffer too as in (burning the paint). Or the guitar body gets so hot and slippery buffing it you drop your new body and ding it. (Please see about crying, going to the bar, joining a weird commune in the hills) !!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, I myself think you get better adhesion using the Wudtone method. The only thing spraying will do is give it a super gloss. But look at what you have to go through to get it!!!!!

Man the price is sweat. It makes it afforable to do. I think once you get the clear thing down you will get a gloss that you won’t be able to tell if its sprayed or not. Another thing on an acoustic body all the spraying may mess with the sound too. And also buffing an acoustic body generates heat and static, not good.
Looks like a killer way to do it. I have seen hundreads of videos, even dudes using spray cans. Sorry not a strong type of paint.
Keith, this is the best method to me so far that can produce great results. Who cares how its done as long as the end result looks killer…………………………fresnojohns

[GnLguy]

John

I’ve explored several of the points that you’ve made and it adds up to one thing – mucho money for sure.

Another factor is dealing with the fumes and overspray, one must have a special booth with adequate fume extraction, both for health reasons and containing the mess. I worked in a welding shop many moons ago and we would paint some of the assemblies for our customer – overspray everywhere!
You mention finishes affecting the sound of an acoustic – I’ve got a really nice Alvarez grand auditorium that was my guinea pig. Now that its warmer, I have to sand all of the clear coat off that I sprayed on last year because of mistakes that I made and I know that it has stiffened the sound board.

Gotta love the learning curve.

When I get around to doing the 2 guitar bodies that I have, I will post before & after pics. I’ve been holding off on building the Tele b/c it is such a nicely figured top, I wanted it done right. I think Wudtone will be the product that I use

[fresnojohns]

Keith,
I honestly think Wudtone has the easiest method. You are right overspray everywhere.

Another thing to think about on acoustic guitars and I just thought this out. Remember how I said buffing and heat and slickness and dropping a guitar. Think of this, there is much heat when buffing. You know this too from painting and machines.(Different subject:When I make small jewelry even in aluminum, I buff and there is so much heat I have to wear gloves)!!!!!! You buff an acoustic body, the heat can also warp the body or undo the glued joints you just repaired.

Another thing Keith…………………you do quality work……a sprayed paint job is very hard to guarantee!!!, because you don’t know what is going to happen when it leaves your shop. You are welcome to talk to me about painting any time. I am not the best, but I have done many types.

For keeping your health in check, keeping cost down, an easier learning curve, and most of all standing behind your work, I think this is a good way to go. The sunburst looked killer too.
I want to see when you are done……………..fresnojohns

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