Sprayed sunburst no mandolin content

**David Houchens** · Aug-31-2017, 6:30am

Just thought I'd share my third attempt at a sprayed sunburst. The dark looks a little wider in the photo than in person. May try a mandolin soon.

Click image for larger version.

Name: phone 8 31 17 009.jpg
Views: 236
Size: 588.5 KB
ID: 160393

**David Houchens** · Sep-02-2017, 9:37am

A great big Thanks to grandcanyonminstrel, Jeff Mando, Jim Hilburn and Walt. I appreciate your support.

**mtucker** · Sep-02-2017, 12:27pm

Thanks for posting. If that's your first, it sure looks good!

I hope you don't think I'm jacking your thread, I'm such a nut for Colling's coloring and finishes, they're the gold standard to me. Really nice...keep going and keep posting 'em as you do more.

**Walt** · Sep-02-2017, 3:55pm

Originally Posted by David Houchens

Just thought I'd share my third attempt at a sprayed sunburst. The dark looks a little wider in the photo than in person. May try a mandolin soon.

Looks awesome! Be sure to post a final pic once it's all strung up.

**Greg Mirken** · Sep-02-2017, 6:02pm

mtucker, I paid a visit to Collings about the time they were starting F mandolin production. I took a photo of the sunburst finish procedure, taped to the wall. They start with "purple black" around the edges, add "magenta" for the transition, and finish with "medium brown" in the center. I agree their bursts are just about perfect.
BTW Bill was very involved in carving top plates- he'd take a tiny curl with a plane, weigh the top, take another little curl, spritz it with water, and on and on. Everyone knew to leave him alone.

**Skip Kelley** · Sep-02-2017, 6:36pm

David, I think it looks perfect! Nicely done!!!

**Bill Snyder** · Sep-02-2017, 9:01pm

Do you like it better than your hand applied sunburst?

**mtucker** · Sep-03-2017, 10:27am

Originally Posted by Greg Mirken

They start with "purple black" around the edges, add "magenta" for the transition, and finish with "medium brown" in the center. I agree their bursts are just about perfect.
BTW Bill was very involved.

He sure had it, didn't he.. The guy putting it down has to have an eye for it and plenty o' time on the gun fading, shading, brushing... if not, your bursts look bad both before and after CBS!

Pat Wilkins here in the valley was and perhaps still is one of the best (insert* tom playing my (his) Anderson tobacco fade), but Mr. Colling's has it pretty perfect.

**David Houchens** · Sep-03-2017, 4:47pm

Bill, I think I'll go back to hand rubbed. I like the idea of not having the wood dictate how the colors blend but It took 3 tries to get it to this point and any touch-up down the road my be tricky. Though I would like to do one mandolin before I give it up.