What Amber Stain for Maple before Tru-Oil?

Dan_C · August 2017

So I'm going to be using Tru-Oil on a maple fender style neck soon.

I finished my last build with Tru-Oil which I like, but I want to get a vintage tint on the next one one and I'm wondering what the best, easiest way to do that. Ideally using stains I don't have to import, and can buy in the UK.

Anyone have any experience staining maple before using Tru-Oil? What did you use?

Dan_C · August 2017

Would something like this do the trick? http://dartfords.com/?portfolio=lightfast-spirit-wood-dye

Rabs · August 2017

I have used Rothko and Frost stains before... Always worked ok for me

http://www.rothkoandfrost.com/water-based-wood-dye/

Dan_C · August 2017

Have you got any images or advice for which colour @Rabs ?

Rabs · August 2017

Dan_C said:

Have you got any images or advice for which colour @Rabs ?

Well I have images of some other colours but from what you say I reckon you want the Amber which I haven't used before but I have used and have pics of the yellow which is probably too bright for what you want to do. If its not dark enough on the furst coat then you keep adding layers till you like what you see...

Also Tru Oil has a slight amber tint itself so you should probably take that in to account too that when you add the oil it will go ever so slightly darker.

Dan_C · August 2017

It'd be cool to see the other colours, just so I can gauge what they look like vs the colour chart... you can email them if thats easier.

Thanks Rabs, think these will do the trick! And just to clarify you've used tru-oil on those water based ones and its fine?

WezV · August 2017

i did a whole thread on tru-oil finishes... mainly with wetsanding which isn't so good for coloured finishes but can still work with a light tint
http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/235/oil-finishes-little-tutorial-for-my-wet-sanded-oil-finish-technique

Sadly PB has killed most of the links - but here is a pic of the tinted tru-oil finish i do

I use traditional wood dye from wilko's for this one. I think it had a light rub down with a little jacobean oak, then a sand back - that gives the dirt in the grain (optional). The yellow tint was from antique oak or pine, possibly a mix of the two. Traditional wood stain is spirit based so can be thinned and mixed as you see fit and even a little added to the oil itself

You don;t need any fancy products just any basic wood coloured stains/dyes
http://www.wilko.com/interior-paint/wood-stain+varnish/icat/wood-stain-varnish#esp_cf=pdxttype&esp_filter_pdxttype=Wood Dye

Dan_C · August 2017

I cant see the picture, I'll PM you so I can get it emailed over @WezV !

WezV · August 2017

imgur link
https://i.imgur.com/QjQTgNs.jpg

Rabs · August 2017

Dan_C said:

It'd be cool to see the other colours, just so I can gauge what they look like vs the colour chart... you can email them if thats easier.

Thanks Rabs, think these will do the trick! And just to clarify you've used tru-oil on those water based ones and its fine?

Actually most of the stains I have used if not all were spirit based. But they both work... Spirit based ones dry quicker but water based ones allow you too move the colour about a bit...

And what Wez says above is true.. You don't have to buy guitar specific products.. The reason to buy them is that they do colours that you wont find in a DIY shop... BUT they do, do woody colours like mahogany and pine and stuff so you can get some good ones from B&Q or wherever and they will work fine...

I have some examples I will post in a bit.. Just getting dinner ready

Rabs · August 2017

Dan_C said:

It'd be cool to see the other colours, just so I can gauge what they look like vs the colour chart... you can email them if thats easier.

Thanks Rabs, think these will do the trick! And just to clarify you've used tru-oil on those water based ones and its fine?

Ok so heres the other colours from Rothko and Frost.. Like I say they were actually the spirit based ones

http://www.rothkoandfrost.com/spirit-based-wood-dye-lightfast/ ;

Tested on flamed maple

http://i.imgur.com/j5aS4lI.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/1YahBHF.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GTm6fGC.jpg

Then theres the Colron stains I got from B&Q.. Ive used these a few times and finished in tru oil.

On this one, I wanted to match the neck wood a bit better with the back.

http://i.imgur.com/tNzDUiA.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cF4wlQ8.jpg

So I first hit it with the antique pine to give it some nice highlights..

http://i.imgur.com/MpYNFvS.jpg

And then the Peruvian mahogany one which is browny redyish

http://i.imgur.com/26Rew2d.jpg

And when it was oiled

http://i.imgur.com/HRRMLv2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ViiP235.jpg

Then theres this Beechwood guitar.. Which is fairly white ish but with redish tint. Started off like this

http://i.imgur.com/vfMXvR4.jpg

And then I added layers of that antique pine and it just gets darker and darker

http://i.imgur.com/tVnfYMN.jpg

And ended up looking like this with its oil

http://i.imgur.com/KzLZUau.jpg

Hope that helps you

Rabs · August 2017

I also have a video I did on my last staining job.. Its not really pertinent to what you are doing but shows how I build the colour up to where I am happy with it.

Dan_C · August 2017

All very helpful! WezVs example is pretty much bang on what I'm looking to do so I'll try the Wilco ones I think... think them out perhaps to leave me some leeway to build the layers up.

Thanks!

WezV · August 2017

I think I have used the colron ones too, the bottles look familiar.

Either way go for a couple of shades around the colour you want. You can then add, remove, mix and layer up until it's right.

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What Amber Stain for Maple before Tru-Oil?

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