Building "Pistol Pete" - $52 TEMU Guitar Kit - Clear Coat & Wipe on Poly Hack (OSU Tribute Part 3)

Welcome back to Ted Talks Guitars & Life! In today's episode, we are moving forward with the "Pistol Pete" project—a $52 Temu guitar kit I'm building for my son. We’ve got the Oklahoma State orange and white theme going, and it's time to address the neck. Texas weather decided to throw a wrench in my plans with a week of rain, so the 2K high-gloss spray is out, and the Wipe-On Poly is in! Join me as I attempt a "slurry" wet-sanding technique to smooth out those pesky grain pores and bugs that moved into my "outdoor studio." We also tackle a last-minute decision on the truss rod hole and see if 1500 grit is a bit too aggressive for Ted’s hands. Grab your Diet Coke and soft pretzels, and let’s get into it! Note: This project is a personal fan tribute and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Oklahoma State University. Just a dad building a cool guitar for his son! Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome back to Ted Talks Guitars & Life! 0:18 - Project Update: Pistol Pete’s $52 Temu Kit status. 1:10 - Reshaping the headstock to a Tele-style curve. 2:55 - The 2K Clear Coat vs. Texas Rain: Why I’m switching to Wipe-On Poly. 4:30 - Dealing with "outdoor studio" debris (bugs and dust). 6:05 - The Plan: Wet sanding with Poly to create a pore-filling slurry. 7:30 - Addressing the truss rod hole (Blackjack!). 11:05 - Workbench vibes: Shoutout to Jeremy (Strings and Pucks) for the pretzels. 13:45 - Attempting the "Blackjack" truss rod hole fix. 21:00 - Cracking open the Minwax Wipe-On Poly. 23:45 - Wet sanding the headstock: 1500 grit vs. 3000 grit. 27:40 - Real-time results: Smoothness vs. "User Error." 30:50 - Prepping the back of the neck for a non-sticky finish. Gear & Supplies Used Today: Kit: $52 Temu Electric Guitar Kit. Paint: Rust-Oleum Orange (Paint + Primer). Clear Coat: Minwax Wipe-On Poly (Warm Gloss). Sandpaper: 1500 grit and 3000 grit foam pads. Abrasive Secret Weapon? Coffee filters Detailing: Black furniture markers/Sharpie. Special Thanks to "The Jacks" our channel members for supporting the shop! If you're new here, hit that Subscribe button. We don't do clickbait; we just do authentic shop talk, mistakes and all. ____ @BCG5150GUITARS (Chris) @StringsnPucks (Jeremy) @cheeto77 (Cheeto) Checkout our playlist page for more series and journeys https://www.youtube.com/@TedTalksGuitars/playlists Special Thanks to our channel members "The Jacks" Want to support the channel? Feel free to explore Channel membership options: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBr6kaWeOvldTHvntB3tnMg/join Ted Talks Guitars & Life Merch Store: https://tedtalksguitars-shop.fourthwall.com/ Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3W3PZox *If you click on this link to shop at Amazon the channel will receive a modest financial commission from your purchases. Guyker Referral Link: https://www.guyker.com/?ref=tedtalksguitars If you use the link you will save 15% at Guyker Use the coupon code: TEDSMITH #TedTalksGuitars #GuitarBuild #PistolPete #TemuGuitar #GuitarFinishing #WipeOnPoly #DIYGuitar #OklahomaState #LuthierTips #GuitarModding