Building "Pistol Pete" The $52 Temu Guitar: Wet Sanding & Buffing (OSU Tribute Part 9)

Working on the "Pistol Pete" project—a $52 Temu guitar kit being transformed into an Oklahoma State University tribute—has been a massive learning curve. In this episode, we dive into the gritty details of wet sanding and buffing the body. From battling steel wool shards stuck in the finish to navigating orange peel and accidental burn-throughs, this is a raw look at the DIY guitar finishing process. We share the mistakes so you don't have to make them, covering everything from grit progression to the challenges of shielding before finishing. Grab a Diet Coke and some popcorn, and join us at the workbench for some honest shop talk. 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 0:44 - The wet sanding mission and learning from mistakes 1:19 - Dealing with steel wool shards and "fatal errors" in the clear coat 3:21 - Choosing the starting grit: 600 vs 800 4:43 - Encouragement for the DIY community and the learning curve 7:52 - Preparing the warm soapy water and the cork block 9:44 - Wet sanding technique: Circular motions and light pressure 14:49 - Resorting to 320 grit to fight heavy orange peel 17:05 - Protecting the cavities: Taping off the shielding paint 20:50 - The grit progression: Moving from 400 up to 2500 23:50 - Final results: Rubbing compound, polishing, and paste wax 25:33 - Assessing the "burn-through" and beauty marks on Pistol Pete 27:47 - Comparing the high-gloss headstock to the buffed body 30:12 - Pro Tip: Why you should shield AFTER finishing the body 31:10 - Next steps: Filling bridge holes and electronics assembly ____ Shoutouts: @sparkyguitars971 (Sparky) @TonJager (Brant) 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 #GuitarFinishing #DIYGuitar #TemuGuitar #Luthier #GuitarRepair #PistolPete #OklahomaState #GuitarBuild #WetSanding #ShopTalk