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I'm doing this finish that has turned out to be more involved than I ever anticipated. It's a neck-thru and a I'm doing a black burst. There are several levels to it and it's taken me a good week to get a handle on it. I'm almost done spraying the last of my colors and shades. I was looking at the tape around the sides of the fretboard and thinking how it's probably going to take some lacquer with it when it's time for it to come off. I had to tape it off because it is to stay natural. However, now I'm almost ready to start doing clear coats. I know I'll probably need to airbrush a little extra on the side of the fretboard once I untape it to compensate for the difference in film thickness.

So... I was thinking about spraying a clear coat on the neck or maybe just some thinner right before I take the tape off. I'm thinking this may loosen up the lacquer and possibly keep it from chipping when the tape is removed. Sound like a bad idea to anyone? If anyone has some tricks, I'd love to hear them.

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"I'm not going to say that perfection has never been achieved. However, if it has, it probably went unnoticed due to it's lack of character."

The trick is to not lift up the tape. Peel it back on itself with enough of an angle that the mask line is cut by the tape as the tape is peeled back.

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

I'm not sure I follow. Are you saying to slide it away from the mask line or to peel it like normal without pulling it toward the mask line? Sorry... I'm just confused.

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"I'm not going to say that perfection has never been achieved. However, if it has, it probably went unnoticed due to it's lack of character."

Also, take the tape off as soon as possible. You don't need the finish to dry before you remove it. That minimises the chipping as well.

I leave the tape on the fret board the whole way through buffing. To remove without chipping the lacquer is easy, I use my fret end beveling file to cut through the edge of the tape and the lacquer. Then pulling three tape is no problem and you get a nice looking micro bevel at the edge of the fret board.

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Brian

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

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/