©2014,RocklerWoodworkingandHardware Page7
4. StainandFinishtheNeckandBody(ApplyRosetteDecal)
Oncemaskingiscomplete,theneckandbodyarereadyforfinishing.Whattypeofstainandclearcoatis
appliedispersonalpreference.Actually,stainisoptio nal,butsometypeofclearcoat(lacquer,
polyurethane,acrylic/urethane)shouldbeappliedtothebodyandthebackofthenecktoprotect
the
wood.Asstatedearlier,thefretboardshouldbeleftunfinished
sinceitismadeofrosewood.Thebridge
shouldalsobeleftunfinishedforthisreason.
Therosettedecalmustbeappliedbeforethefinalclearcoatsareapplied.Itisokaytoapplyonecoatof
clearcoattotheguitarbodybeforeapplyingtherosette,butseveralcoats
shouldbeappliedafterward
toensurethatitisprotectedandsealedtothegui tar.
Toapplythedecal,soakitinabowlofwaterforapproximately20–30secondsuntilitstartstoslideoff
thebackingpaper.Slideitontotheguitarbodyaroundthesoundhole,
peelingawaythepaperbacking.
Whileitiswetitshouldslidearoundontheguitarwithslightfingertippressure.Ifitstartstogetstuck
andneedstoberepositioned,dampenyourfingerinthebowlofwaterandwipeitaroundthesurface
ofthedecal.Usea
sponge,cloth,orpapertoweltosmooththedecal,removeanytrappedairbubbles
andremoveexcesswater.Allowthedecaltodryforseveralhoursbeforeapplyingthenextclearcoat.
Oncetheallcoatsoffinishhavedried,removethemaskingtape.
5. GluetheNecktotheBody
Beforetheneckcanbeglued tothebody,thejointhastobeprepared.Roughdryfittingwasdonein
Step1,butnowfinishhasbeenappliedtothebodyandneck.Thatfinishmustberemovedfromthe
neck‐bodyjointforproperglueadhesion(Note:Finishremoval
onsomepartsofthejointmaynotbe
necessaryiftheyweremaskedpriortofinishing).Todothis,inserttheneckintothebody.Holdingthe
neckfirmlyinplace,useasharprazorknifetocarefullyscribealinearoundthefretboardwhereitrests
onthe
topoftheguitarbo dy. Alsoscribealinearoundtheneckheelwhereitmeetsthesideofthe
Beforeremovingairbubblesand
wrinkles
Afterremovingairbubblesand
wrinkles
Figure4:ApplyingRosetteDecalduringClearCoat