Episode

[@music-xr4co]

Thanks for video..BIG time thanks. Just used z poxy for first time on a guitar test body . i put it on thick with a brush and within 3 hours it is hard to touch. then i hand rubbed it in and it looks incredible with the thin coat...WOW! One more thing, the room i applied it in is below 70 degrees..no problem, will never use polyurethane again.

[@pigjubby1]

What did you use to polish the Z-Ppoxy? Did you go through the grits of paper, i.e., 320, 400, 600, 1000, 1200, etc.? Wet sand too or just dry sand? Type of polish? Thanks.

[@music-xr4co]

@@pigjubby1 hello, I meant to say I put on a thin cost, hand rubbed as I don't like the thick shiny finishes. If I remember I went 400 to get rid of dust nibs..then 600, 1000, and 2000..followed up with polishing compound and buffed out to a satin finish..all by hand.

[@music-xr4co]

@@pigjubby1 wet sanded, automotive polishing compound

[@pigjubby1]

@@music-xr4co Did you stay at a satin finish? Do you think it could buff out to a gloss finish? Thank you.

[@music-xr4co]

@@pigjubby1 I stayed at satin because i'm not crazy about gloss..but yeah it'll buff out to gloss. check out the guys on youtube they show you how.

[@Nickpaflas]

Interesting video. For grain filling swamp ash (to eventually become a butterscotch blonde tele), How much of the microballoon powder do you add to a given volume of the Z-poxy? Just trying to get a feel for proportions.

[@kempire4623]

I'm sorry this post is to a video that came out some time ago, but I found this incredibly informative. I'm taking my first voyage into finishing and assembling a guitar. The body that w the s given to me has a burl top, but there are some areas that have slight gaps/cracks like down the middle where it was fitted. Will this help level and smooth out the surface? I'm almost done sanding and then I was thinking of going with a boiled linseed wipe and then finishing with this. Interested in your thoughts and thank you for the great content.

[@vincenzocompare6501]

Zpoxy finishing resin is different respect zpoxy 30 minutes, have you tried both? Is the 30 minutes transparent?

[@HighlineGuitars]

🤷‍♂

[@Loonysoup-1744]

Z-poxy hmmm, Timing couldn’t be more perfect Chris, i have current project using a basswood body. Yesterday i was looking at different woods and why i went with basswood, hearing about how vulnerable it is to physical harm ,and how to protect it. It was a tone choice as usual. Considering this for personally i would do a test piece first on z-poxy . Cleaner and less of a mess and risk compared to using solarez , or just a poly clear coat. I have a water base acrylic paint design on it right now. Thanks Chris ! your one of my top 5 go to channels I appreciate your time and knowledge you give.

[@thomaskeithlutheir]

Thanks for the video. Is Z poxy pore filler compatible with water based lacquer please?

[@harriswho]

Hi, I'm doing a burl poplar top guitar. As usual I have a hard time with burl because it's such a soft wood. Would you recommend staining the guitar with color (i.e. leather dye) and then doing a finish with z-poxy as both a hardener and a finish (several layers)?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Yes, that's exactly what I would do.

[@robertnewell5057]

Hi Chris. Really enjoyed this, but I couldn't find on your channel anything about using the zpoxy as a topcoat. Did I miss it or is it not done yet? Presuming that you need to sand, is there a risk of sand through and witness lines, or do the coats interlink like French polish or nitro?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I haven't done a topcoat with Z-Poxy yet. I would imagine witness lines will be an issue since epoxy doesn't burn-in.

[@robertnewell5057]

@@HighlineGuitars Thanks. Z poxy is available in UK, but there is an alternative homegrown product with the unlikely name of Plastic Coating (it's just a 2 part epoxy). Its build is so high that sand through isn't a problem and it buffs to a high shine by hand. The issue is that it is disgusting in terms of odour and irritation, and so a respirator is required, so I stopped using it.

[@ziminson]

Chris, thanks for video! Is epoxy suitable for guitar neck finishing?

[@Traumm9]

Excellent video thank you

[@HighlineGuitars]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MrMaumarq]

Thanks a lot. Very nice video, as usual. Can you tell me what´s s the glass microspheres brand and specs? Thanks.

[@HighlineGuitars]

www.solarez.com/product/3m-microballons/

[@MrMaumarq]

@@HighlineGuitars Many Thanks!

[@monkcleo]

Thanks for the video. Found your video while I was looking for solution to harden my bass wood. If I apply stain the bass wood first prior to apply Z-proxy, will the stain block the absorption of z-ploxy? If so, should I use water soluble dye instead? Thanks

[@HighlineGuitars]

It won't matter. Z-poxy makes only the surface a little bit harder.

[@robertwatkins8220]

@@HighlineGuitars Can I use this epoxy on the whole guitar, (back and sides)?

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@robertwatkins8220 Yes.

[@jurgenzoller4407]

so there is no problem wiping an oil finish over the cured z poxy, but sanding between ?

[@HighlineGuitars]

No problem as long as you use an oil-based polyurethane.

[@jurgenzoller4407]

@@HighlineGuitars thanks Chris, so any oil based finish is fine over z poxy. Actually hoping to do a fabric under z poxy.

[@markrogers7304]

Question. I have a guitar that I filled in a floyd rose route on top of body and have sprayed a sandable primer on to check for any imperfections. I have a very very minor ghost outline of about 2-3" that just doesn't want to hide. Would a coat or 2 of zpoxy laid over the top of the guitar level the top enough to hide the ghosting? I would paint a base color over it.

[@djoyce777]

For a guy without a spray rig, does anyone know if SprayMax 2k clear in a rattle adheres to z-poxy?

[@Igornopolis]

Hello. I find your videos really great and helpfull. I've got a maple top mahogany tele body that Im gonna finish in tru oil. I want a smooth glassy-ish surface and I ordered Z poxy to fill the mahogany back and sides. 2 questions.. And I would sooo so appreciate if you could healp me surface in this overwhealming sea of guitar finishing info.. 1) Do I need to add micro spheres to grain fill the mahogany back with z-poxy? 2) can I and do I need to seal my Keda dyed (water) maple top with z-poxy before Tru Oil top coats?

[@HighlineGuitars]

1. Yes, and it does help. 2. I would spray on a sealer first before the Z-Poxy or you'll risk smearing the dye.

[@Igornopolis]

@@HighlineGuitars Thank you, good sir! What sanding sealer would you recommend on top of dye that would be compatable with tru oil finish? Thanks so much for your help.

[@BluesGuitarStudent]

So I've used 150, 250, 400, 600, 800, 1500 and 3000 grit on my epoxy finish and it's still milky. How high do I have to go, or do I just buff it to get that luster back? I'm getting to the point that I'll have to start over if I get any closer to the wood.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Time to buff.

[@terrisabella5966]

Thanks for the video, I've watched many of your videos, very instructional. One thing I haven't seen you do is apply solid color. I'm curious as to how you would use Z-Poxy prior to applying a solid. I have an Alder body that I am about to paint. I want to do a solid white and was about to order grain filler and polyester sealer. After watching your video I'm wondering if I could just do the grain filling and sealing with the Z-Poxy and then go right to color from there?

[@HighlineGuitars]

That's how I would do it. 2-3 coats of Z-Poxy to fill and seal. Let it fully cure and sand smooth before painting.

[@terrisabella5966]

@@HighlineGuitars Thank you

[@HighlineGuitars]

@Ed B Anything you want.

[@jeremyb6013]

Do you still prefer general enduro precast as your go to spray clear finish? Thank you so much for all your wisdom!!

[@HighlineGuitars]

No. That stuff is horrible. Fisheyes galore. I use Crystalac Brite Tone Instrument Finish.

[@tkmclaughlin]

Hi. I enjoy you videos. Thanks for sharing them. I have a spalted maple drop top (2 book matches panels of about .35 inches each) that I plan on stabilizing with Z poxy. I’m trying to figure out when I apply the z poxy. Would it be right to stabilize the wood BEFORE I glue the book matched panels together and before gluing the glued top to the guitar body? Logic tells me that would be the time to do it. But does z poxy impede the ability of the wood panels to be glued together or the ability of the glued top to be glued to the body? Do you have any guidance you might be able to share?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I would glue the panels together and to the body first. You're not actually stabilizing the wood but rather making the surface a uniform hardness so as to protect it from dents and dings and make sanding more consistent.

[@deann2609]

As always - great video. I'm interested in the microballoons/microspheres and have followed the link to the System Three as well as the Solarez left in an earlier response, but both are described as white (even though clear is the ST description - title and reviews confirm white). I can't find any confirming that they're clear - any info here appreicated, thanks

[@HighlineGuitars]

Sorry, I can't offer any additional info beyond what the manufacturers say.

[@deann2609]

@@HighlineGuitars I understand but have you used any and were the results clear?

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@deann2609 No, I have not used it.

[@deann2609]

@@HighlineGuitars thx for replying

[@Midnightrider1177]

Would you recommend a finish like this that penetrates the wood and hardens for an acoustic or ukulele? I’m most of the way thru a stew Mac ukulele build and suffering big time from decision paralysis about the finish.

[@HighlineGuitars]

No. I would use danish oil or polymerized tung oil.

[@DavidAbbott]

Hi, I'm planning a guitar that will have a unpainted matte basswood body and it's very soft of course. Do you think this product would be the best to harden up the wood or is there something better? Would it be worth using a UV-resistant poly finish afterwards to add even more protection or would a different finish be better? Thanks!

[@HighlineGuitars]

Z-poxy will help, but I would also use a UV curable polyester clear coat like this: amzn.to/2Lzqztt

[@DavidAbbott]

@@HighlineGuitars Thank you! Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of sunshine here in Finland except in the summer. What about Crystalac Matte BriteTone with the Z-Poxy? Would that work?

[@meadish]

Would this work as a clear finish over a fully dried acrylic lacquer color color coat, if I scuff up the acrylic first? If yes, what grit for scuffing? Or does it not work over acrylic lacquer?

[@HighlineGuitars]

No reason I can think of that it wouldn't work. However, TEST ON SCRAP!!

[@Dreamdancer11]

How do you feel about z-poxy to be used as a wood glue too?Iam about to make a string through 7 string guitar and i was wondering if z-poxy would be enough to use to glue the laminations together...thanks in advance.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Their website says the finishing resin can be used for lamination work. I've never used it that way so I can't comment.

[@Dreamdancer11]

​@@HighlineGuitars I see..Thanks a lot for the quick reply.

[@oktbas9197]

lm a newbie making an instrument which l decided not long ago being at home bored and nothing to do. My question is should l use filler before Z-poxy or Z-poxy is a filler and a finish product? İf not what would you recommend me to apply on a finished row wood instrument? Thank you

[@HighlineGuitars]

Z-Poxy is both a filler and a finish.

[@oktbas9197]

@@HighlineGuitars Thank you, appreciate your help.

[@BrownBoneBarbie]

Can i use this over a cured casted project, as a sealant? I was thinking about sanding my cured project to create some tooth for the z epoxy to adhere to it.

[@HighlineGuitars]

I have no idea.

[@anitabonghit2758]

i am very amatuer at this but i have custom painted a guitar with an intricate picture using enamel paints. i want to seal it with smudging the image. intend to do a good few coats of clear enamel. would this product be optimal for a protective seal coat without ruining the image?

[@HighlineGuitars]

You should be fine with clear enamel, but I would recommend testing on scrap wood.

[@loneliboy1234]

Hi, between the zpoxy finishimg resin and solarez uv cure polyester resin, wich one would you recommend in terms of ease of use, durability and home use?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Stay away from the UV polyester. Instead, use the Solarez I Can't Believe It's Not Lacquer.

[@loneliboy1234]

@@HighlineGuitars thanks a lot for the suggestion. You are awesome :)

[@gp85hkg]

hmmmm...zed poxy, I must keep an eye out for it...

[@thurgogopro5338]

Nope it was zee proxy he used I'm sure. lol.

[@ccchicken8889]

You've done lots of finish vids, and it's much appreciated. Have you tried Spray Max 2K Aerosol? I hear good things about it (other than being very toxic).

[@HighlineGuitars]

I have heard good things as well, however, its toxicity scares me.

[@ccchicken8889]

Highline Guitars I would spray outside with a good mask instead of in my garage. But I would leave it to cure in a unused room of the house, which still worries me some.

[@MrTurdfergusen]

Took a minute before I realized that's a lefty body! Haven't done one of those yet, are there any specific challenges to making a lefty? I assume its just a mirror image? Sorry that was a little off topic....

[@HighlineGuitars]

It's pretty much a mirror image. Some guys try to mirror the controls with lefty specific parts, but I don't.

[@dantahoua]

How do you apply on the side? The guitar seems to be laid flat for the Z-Poxy to dry, I'm curious. As usual, thanks a lot!

[@HighlineGuitars]

You can trowel or even wipe it on with a clean cloth. I hang it up to cure.

[@moondogsolo]

Can you apply this on a painted guitar?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Yes, but it will affect the color as Z-Poxy has an amber tint.

[@ethanslape8889]

id like a video of you actually using the stuff

[@HighlineGuitars]

This is the most recent one where I used it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWi7n6GnYsebY8U

[@221Dw]

Doesn't epoxy deteriorate over time due to uv light?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I don't know. Boat hulls and surfboards are made out of it. Corvette bodies are made out of it. A lot of airplane wings are made out of it. If you're worried about it, don't leave your guitar in the sun.

[@221Dw]

​@@HighlineGuitars Yeah I believe boats are usually painted or given a spar varnish which has uv blockers which wear out over time and need repainting/varnish quite often. I'd like to use epoxy for something but don't want it to have to be expired after 10-15 years. I don't know how much keeping something indoors protects it as UV still comes inside. It seems all epoxy or resins eventually yellow then break down because of UV damage.

[@ragnaroksangel]

Are you guys planning to be playing electric guitars all the time outside in the sun or what? Lol are you not seeing the situation here? All of those things stay in the sun ALL THE TIME for those years. We are talking about guitars that spend 99% of their life NEVER SEEING THE SUN... Lmfao this convo is ridiculous

[@dgarner23]

Can I tru oil on top of zpoxy filler?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Don’t know. I have never used it that way before. There’s no logical reason I can think of to put Tru Oil over Z-Poxy. Z-Poxy works fine on its own.

[@BrownBoneBarbie]

Is this offered in a clear?

[@HighlineGuitars]

No. It has an amber tint that can vary from one batch to the next. I think for what you want, you might consider a UV curable resin, like Solarez.

[@billpholde4816]

13 minutes and not a drop of Z-Poxy put on that guitar. Should've named this the Talky Episode. Thank goodness for the ability to scrub through videos. Next!