I Fought This BexGears Kit Tooth and Nail (And Mostly Won)

This BexGears TL Kit has been a challenge from day one, fighting me "tooth and nail" every step of the way. Between the heavy factory sealer and some "janky" lines, I had to decide: do I settle, or do I go back to bare wood? In this update, I’m walking you through the "elfish duties" of Christmas Eve in the shop, including my aggressive sanding strategy to get past the BexGears sealer. We’re experimenting with Rit Dye on the neck and eventually bringing in the old reliable Minwax Gunstock 231 for the body. Plus, you’ll see the first results of the 2K High Gloss Clear Coat—fingerprints, bugs, and all! What’s inside this update: The BexGears Sealer Issue: Why these kits are so hard to stain and what worked for me. Custom Coloring: Using Rit Dye (Dark Brown and Wine) to get that "old brown shoe" look. The "Player Side" Fix: Why I decided to sand the body again to meet my own standards. 2K High Gloss: Seeing that thick, mirror-like finish for the first time. Life Lessons: Why a guitar is only worth what someone is willing to pay—and why this one stays with me forever. Next Up: We’re putting the polishing pads away and picking up the screwdriver. It's time for assembly and the final tone test! Get your popcorn and a Diet Coke, and come on to the show! Timestamps 1:22 - The Struggle: Fighting the BexGears Sealer 3:15 - Elfish Duties: Holiday Errands & New Supplies 4:22 - Neck Stain: Rit Dye Experiment (Dark Brown & Wine) 5:56 - First Look: Polar Flawless Lacquer on the Neck 7:36 - Community Talk: Kit Build Opinions & BexGears Feedback 10:45 - The Truth About Resale Value 12:35 - Content Creator Thoughts: The "One Shot" Theory 15:00 - Decision Time: Stripping the Body Sides (Again) 18:50 - "Old Brown Shoe" vs. Gunstock 231 22:45 - The Reveal: 2K High Gloss Clear Coat Results 25:00 - Handling Mistakes: Fingerprints & Bugs in the Finish 27:30 - What’s Next: Assembly & Final Tone Test Shoutouts: @TimRock1269 (BBM) @SmokeEaterGuitars (Jon) @BCG5150GUITARS (Chris) @TonJager (Brant) @j-mansgearcave (J-man) @2bikemikesguitartopics145 (Mike) ____ 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 #BexGears #BexGearsKitReview #BexGearsTL #DIYGuitarKit #GuitarBuild #TelecasterBuild #GuitarRestoration #LuthierTips #RitDyeGuitar #2KClearCoat #Gunstock231 #Minwax #GuitarsAndLife #TedTalksGuitars #GuitarProjects #ShopLife