love of Ampeg and other Scroll Basses, Part 2

#8,341
Nearly done re-painting #018's body. I sprayed on 5 coats of EM9300 clear and let it cure for 24 hours. Now I'm level-sanding it with 600 Autonet and 1000 Abralon.

IMG_0684B.jpg


The Cross-Linker and Retarder came through yesterday. After I finish this level-sanding, I'm going to spray on one or two coats of EM9300 clear with the Cross-Linker and maybe some Retarder added. Hopefully, they will go on like glass, and be the final hard top coat. With very minimal wet sanding and buffing needed. And it should be done!
 
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#8,342
Bruce Johnson said:
And here's #018's body with black sunburst edging sprayed on:

View attachment 7016539

I sprayed the black on lighter, going only about a half inch on to the surface.

View attachment 7016540

I mixed the black pigment into the EM9300 fairly light (not full opaque) and sprayed the edges in 4 coats. This makes them fuzzier and more even at the inner edges.

View attachment 7016541

View attachment 7016542

Now I'm starting to lay on the clear top coats. I've got two on there so far. I'll put on maybe 4 more. Then level sand with 1000 grit. Then about two more top coats with the Cross-Linker added.

Then, hopefully, the painting will be finished. And it won't need very much wet sanding and buffing.
Click to expand...
Is today the big test day for #018?
 
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#8,343
Ed Bloom said:
Is today the big test day for #018?
Click to expand...

Hello Ed;

Unfortunately, no.

I sprayed the Final Top Coat on Saturday night, with the magic Cross Linker additive, and........It didn't come out well. It flowed out to a semi-gloss sheen with little particles in it, And a few sags. Aaargh. I thought I followed the directions exactly, but I guess not. I assume something was wrong with the mix and it was partially pre-curing while in the cup.

So, I had to let it cure through most of Sunday, and did another round of level sanding Sunday night.

IMG_0685B.jpg


Sanding that coat off, it didn't seem any harder or tougher than the previous coats. The Cross Linker was supposed to make the top surface harder, and the Retarder was supposed to make it flow out smoother. Neither appears to have happened. I'm going to put them on the shelf for now. Maybe try some experiments with them later on some test pieces.

This afternoon, in a few minutes, I'll try again to spray on the Final Top Coat. This time, it will be straight EM9300, without the additives. Like I did before. If this goes well, then #018 may be ready for final testing around Wednesday.
 
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#8,344
Bruce Johnson said:
Hello Ed;

Unfortunately, no.

I sprayed the Final Top Coat on Saturday night, with the magic Cross Linker additive, and........It didn't come out well. It flowed out to a semi-gloss sheen with little particles in it, And a few sags. Aaargh. I thought I followed the directions exactly, but I guess not. I assume something was wrong with the mix and it was partially pre-curing while in the cup.

So, I had to let it cure through most of Sunday, and did another round of level sanding Sunday night.

View attachment 7020178

Sanding that coat off, it didn't seem any harder or tougher than the previous coats. The Cross Linker was supposed to make the top surface harder, and the Retarder was supposed to make it flow out smoother. Neither appears to have happened. I'm going to put them on the shelf for now. Maybe try some experiments with them later on some test pieces.

This afternoon, in a few minutes, I'll try again to spray on the Final Top Coat. This time, it will be straight EM9300, without the additives. Like I did before. If this goes well, then #018 may be ready for final testing around Wednesday.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry to hear of your trials and tribulations. For what it is worth, the picture you attached is beautiful!!!
 
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#8,345
Ed Bloom said:
I'm sorry to hear of your trials and tribulations. For what it is worth, the picture you attached is beautiful!!!
Click to expand...

I just sprayed the (hopefully) Final Clear Top Coat a few minutes ago, and it appears to be successful........
 
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#8,348
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#8,350
Bruce Johnson said:
Yeah, that's one of my Series II AUB-2's from 1998. I'd have to dig in my picture files to determine which one. It's between #013 and #023. So, it ended up in the UK in Bob Daisley's collection. It looks like it's still in good shape, all original.
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Thanks Bruce. That’s what I thought. I just messaged the seller with that info and here is the reply.

“It’s not a 90s bass it’s the case that’s 98 :)) im pretty smart and do no the difference”

“Ps , the bass is vintage and has been modified , the finish , hardware etc is all 60s , look. Carefully and you will confirm too”
 
#8,351
Thom Fioriglio said:
Thanks Bruce. That’s what I thought. I just messaged the seller with that info and here is the reply.

“It’s not a 90s bass it’s the case that’s 98 :)) im pretty smart and do no the difference”

“Ps , the bass is vintage and has been modified , the finish , hardware etc is all 60s , look. Carefully and you will confirm too”
Click to expand...

Heh......Okay, I guess I'll have to write to him and correct the record.
 
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#8,354
Ed Bloom said:
And?
Click to expand...

Aaargh. A painful, frustrating week. My feet and ankles have flared up again. I can walk around, slowly and painfully, but it's slowed down my shop time. I went for X-rays and blood tests, etc. The good news is that I don't have anything wrong, nothing serious anyway. But my Doctor still doesn't know what's going on......

And other disruptions this week. I was hoping that today would be clear for me to get some time in the shop. Then the electric company showed up this morning to dismantle and rebuild the power pole across the street. The one that feeds our building. So, our power was shut off for most of the day. With no warning. Aargh.

Meanwhile, I've been working on wet-sanding and polishing the clear coats on #018's body. An hour here and an hour there when I could. And it's still not done. This EM9300 is tough stuff to level sand and polish. I'm pretty happy with the results. It's not perfect, but I have to get it done and out to you.
 
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#8,355
Bruce Johnson said:
Aaargh. A painful, frustrating week. My feet and ankles have flared up again. I can walk around, slowly and painfully, but it's slowed down my shop time. I went for X-rays and blood tests, etc. The good news is that I don't have anything wrong, nothing serious anyway. But my Doctor still doesn't know what's going on......

And other disruptions this week. I was hoping that today would be clear for me to get some time in the shop. Then the electric company showed up this morning to dismantle and rebuild the power pole across the street. The one that feeds our building. So, our power was shut off for most of the day. With no warning. Aargh.

Meanwhile, I've been working on wet-sanding and polishing the clear coats on #018's body. An hour here and an hour there when I could. And it's still not done. This EM9300 is tough stuff to level sand and polish. I'm pretty happy with the results. It's not perfect, but I have to get it done and out to you.
Click to expand...

Poor #018! It's like there is a conspiracy to keep her from being completed and whatever forces are conspiring against her are taking you out as collateral damage. Having medical issues flare up AND being without power in today's world is a very troubling twosome. If this keeps up you might need to go back to the days where an alternate power source turned poles across the ceiling of the shop and leather belts turned the pulleys on the old machines you have in the Secret Underground Laboratory! Sorry to hear all this, Bruce. With your last post I assumed you were finished and in the process of scheduling the #018 test sessions with Juan and Coy. I'm anxious enough to have wanted to see pictures of #018 in her finished glory while waiting for that event.
 
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#8,356
Bruce sorry to hear about your issues. Getting old is interesting at times. But we keep rocking and rolling. I feel Ed’s pain. When you finally get it in your hands you will know if was worth it..

I have been actually way too busy for my age. Need to finally retire from banking one of these days. Bank merger headaches are consuming me. But been playing 8-10 gigs month or more last since weather is nice. Lots of outdoor shows. Some scroll sightings..
 
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#8,357
I did manage to get some good work in on polishing #018's body last night.

IMG_0695B.jpg


I've upgraded my buffing bench to be more productive and comfortable. Better lighting, placement of tools, and now I can work sitting down.

IMG_0696B.jpg


I've also worked out better technique for wet-sanding and buffing this EM9300 poly. It's tough stuff, and it takes a different process than I've been using on the Varathane Ultimate that I've been using for the past few years. I discovered last night that TurtleWax's paste-type Polishing Compound works surprisingly well for this finish. I had been using 3M and Meguiar's liquid rubbing compounds. The TurtleWax does it cleaner with less greasy residue. For some reason.

The whole weekend looks clear, so far, so hopefully I can get this thing finished up.
 
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#8,358
Another update in the saga:

Some more Aaargh, but not as bad as last week. Still hobbling around in pain, but I am getting some reasonable shop hours in.

Polishing out #018's body finish has mostly been going well. The improved process is giving me good results.

IMG_0700B.jpg


The EM9300 clear does polish up nicely......

IMG_0699B.jpg


But I did have one setback. This area developed a discolored blush. It's under the surface, and won't buff out. This particular area was where I was working when I was experimenting with different buffing compounds. I think I simply overheated it with too much buffing, too much pressure. Oh well....Another lesson learned. The improved buffing technique goes much faster with less pressure and heat. No signs of this blushing anywhere else.

IMG_0701B.jpg


But, I've got to fix it. So, I level sanded that area, again, to 1000 grit and masked it off.......

IMG_0702B.jpg


...And sprayed on two more coats of EM9300 clear. That bluish tint is how these water-base poly finishes look when they are wet.

IMG_0703B.jpg


And it came out well. Some dust specks, but pretty flat. I'll let it cure through the day today and go back to the polishing tonight.
 
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#8,359
Bruce Johnson said:
Another update in the saga:

Some more Aaargh, but not as bad as last week. Still hobbling around in pain, but I am getting some reasonable shop hours in.

Polishing out #018's body finish has mostly been going well. The improved process is giving me good results.

View attachment 7027591

The EM9300 clear does polish up nicely......

View attachment 7027590

But I did have one setback. This area developed a discolored blush. It's under the surface, and won't buff out. This particular area was where I was working when I was experimenting with different buffing compounds. I think I simply overheated it with too much buffing, too much pressure. Oh well....Another lesson learned. The improved buffing technique goes much faster with less pressure and heat. No signs of this blushing anywhere else.

View attachment 7027592

But, I've got to fix it. So, I level sanded that area, again, to 1000 grit and masked it off.......

View attachment 7027593

...And sprayed on two more coats of EM9300 clear. That bluish tint is how these water-base poly finishes look when they are wet.

View attachment 7027594

And it came out well. Some dust specks, but pretty flat. I'll let it cure through the day today and go back to the polishing tonight.
Click to expand...

Can there be too much learning from one bass project? Oh well, I'm glad the QC team is alert!
 
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