DIY finish checking

[alexanderja]

Has anyone here managed to get their finish to check using DIY methods.
I know that hot-cold or the reverse is supposed to do it.....eventually, but to what degree ? ...... and at what cost to the guitar ?

If anyone has any check lines forming, intended or not, could they say how they think they happened......and show photos.

 

[Greco]

Well I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a cold winter!

I've tried freezer spray before (the type you can get from Maplins or wherever) and I only got the tiniest cracks in very small areas which were hardly visable at all to the naked eye unless you really got in the right light. That was with a whole can as well and it's supposed to freeze things to -50 degrees. I'm sure if I'd had 20 cans I could've gotten somewhere but that stuff's like 8 quid a pop.

If you have a chest freezer, then that is supposed to work.

 

[alexanderja]

I d love to hear from someone whos had a good result......and how they did it.......and what precautions were taken etc

 

[Greco]

There's a guy over in that "other" forum who scrubbed the finish down with a scouring pad and chucked it in the freezer. Ended up completely checked.

 

[MIKE20]

...that guy is also a member here...

 

[Timster]

I'm sure it turned out to look like shit that's why you don't see people posting pictures of their "experiments".

 

[MIKE20]

I'm sure it turned out to look like shit that's why you don't see people posting pictures of their "experiments".

...the one Greco is talking about didn't turn out "like shit"...

 

[radioscooter]

I was just talking about this with another forum bro the other day. No offense to people who have used blades to achieve a similar result but I think it almost always looks really bad that way. Even Tom Murphy, who I generally admire and respect most of his work - I have seen some guitars (some shown here) where the checking looks just fake and atrocious.

When a guitar starts to check early on - I think it has that look where you can SEE the checking but not really FEEL it yet because it's cracking from the inside out. That's a great look. Eventually, the top laquer gives way and you can feel the checking lines, pieces fall off etc. But for a while before that you get that great "internal" checking look that can only be achieved by REAL hot/cold checking.

The reason for most real checking over the past 50 years has got to be - leaving the guitar in the van overnight then bringing it in to the gig/house and opening it up too soon. Or something similar.

Having the "luxury" of living in an area that gets some really cold winters - I have started to try to capture the "natural checking" effect and see how much control I can manage over it. I'll post my results as I go. I fully realize that I could fail miserably with this. But hey - then off to HM for a refin!

Unlike dipping nickel in etchant solution or sanding down wooden edges - Taking a blade to a guitar finish doesn't really emulate the process that causes real checking and while it may look 'okay' some of the time at first (which is debatable), I really think that as that guitar naturally ages, there will be completely different issues stemming from the induced checking effects imposed upon the finish. My guess would be larger pieces falling off sooner and a general inconsistent look to the aging. How ironic to have a guitar look aged in its infancy then look less realistic as it actually gets older.

 

[Greco]

...the one Greco is talking about didn't turn out "like shit"...

No, it looked great.

 

[MIKE20]

No, it looked great.

+1...

 

[Greco]

 

[The Shifter]

I was just talking about this with another forum bro the other day. No offense to people who have used blades to achieve a similar result but I think it almost always looks really bad that way. Even Tom Murphy, who I generally admire and respect most of his work - I have seen some guitars (some shown here) where the checking looks just fake and atrocious.

When a guitar starts to check early on - I think it has that look where you can SEE the checking but not really FEEL it yet because it's cracking from the inside out. That's a great look. Eventually, the top laquer gives way and you can feel the checking lines, pieces fall off etc. But for a while before that you get that great "internal" checking look that can only be achieved by REAL hot/cold checking.

The reason for most real checking over the past 50 years has got to be - leaving the guitar in the van overnight then bringing it in to the gig/house and opening it up too soon. Or something similar.

Having the "luxury" of living in an area that gets some really cold winters - I have started to try to capture the "natural checking" effect and see how much control I can manage over it. I'll post my results as I go. I fully realize that I could fail miserably with this. But hey - then off to HM for a refin!

Unlike dipping nickel in etchant solution or sanding down wooden edges - Taking a blade to a guitar finish doesn't really emulate the process that causes real checking and while it may look 'okay' some of the time at first (which is debatable), I really think that as that guitar naturally ages, there will be completely different issues stemming from the induced checking effects imposed upon the finish. My guess would be larger pieces falling off sooner and a general inconsistent look to the aging. How ironic to have a guitar look aged in its infancy then look less realistic as it actually gets older.

Very well said.:salude

 

[led zep fan]

There's a guy over in that "other" forum who scrubbed the finish down with a scouring pad and chucked it in the freezer. Ended up completely checked.

Hey! That's me! I put the body of the guitar in a box freezer for about 10 minutes and removed it to room temp. I did it about 3-4 times and the result is fantastic!!!

 

[alexanderja]

Hey! That's me! I put the body of the guitar in a box freezer for about 10 minutes and removed it to room temp. I did it about 3-4 times and the result is fantastic!!!

Can we see some photos ?????

 

[led zep fan]

Sure!

I've got to take newer photos, especially to show off the new DMC switch ring!

 

[MIKE20]

yeah...that's it...:salude

 

[J.D.]

If you leave it out for a few hours or so on a very cold winter day and quickly bring it inside in front of a good heat source like a fireplace or hairdryer I *assure* you the finish will check big time.

 

[alexanderja]

If you leave it out for a few hours or so on a very cold winter day and quickly bring it inside in front of a good heat source like a fireplace or hairdryer I *assure* you the finish will check big time.

but will it wreck the neck or pop the frets ?????

 

[alexanderja]

Sure!

I've got to take newer photos, especially to show off the new DMC switch ring!

And by the way......that is funky !!!!!

.........thats what im talkin 'bout !!!!!!!!!!!!:dude:

 

[led zep fan]

but will it wreck the neck or pop the frets ?????

Hasn't happened to me! My neck is as straight as an arrow.