Official Luthiers Forum!

Up front, I apologize for not having a pic of this to share.

I have a slot head on the bench ready for lacquer. But, it ended up with a truss rod adjustable at the head, rather than thru the sound hole.
Rather than put an ugly generic cover on it, I routed off the area over the adjustment nut, carefully fitted a piece of matching headstock overlay material, sanded it all clean and made it look like an unaultered slotted head. I even fitted it with a rare earth magnet to hold it down to the nut so there are no screws visible.

Now my dilemma. How do I finish it so the whole thing blends together and can perform the function and asthetic is was designed for?

Options I have thought of include

1. Shooting lacquer directly on it and carefully cutting it loose with and exacto knife

2. Taping the hole shut and shooting them separately

3. Getting advice from the OLF.


THOUGHTS?

Thanks,

Dave

I would shoot them separately. Depending on how tight the gap is between them you may have to sand some of the finish off the edges but it will still be a nice looking job. If you are just shooting clear there should be no problems with color.

I think you would be asking for problems if you leave it on and finish both at the same time, or at least a bunch of touch ups after you cut the clear to get the cover off. And you would end up with parts of the edges with no finish and parts where the clear ran through the gap.

Bob

They need finished separately so the edges can be done. The back of the cover should be sealed to prevent warping. Make sure to allow enough room for the finish, the gap will need to be wider than you think as lacquer tends to lay in the edge of the recess. When I buff the covers I usually screw them to a large block of wood so I can buff them safely on the buffer.

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

I agree with separately.
DC tape the cover to a small block of wood... makes it easy to spray /sand/buff.
Use a shaped piece of acetate in the hole.

_________________
Dave
Milton, ON