Sorry for slightly spamming this forum with build threads
I want a satin black finish for my telemaster, the black strat with this finish on the wudtone website looks awesome and pretty much what I want. Deep and rich, I'd hate if it turned out all grey and washed out looking.
Has anyone used this kit/similar and how did it turn out? Any tips and advice for getting that kinda finish? And do I need the grain filler? It'll be on an alder body, the builder says it won't be prepped for paint and may require some light sanding before using finishing products - from what I've read so far some fine sanding with 240 grit is alright for wudtone finishes?
Or is there anything better for a similar price that's as easy to put on? I considered just getting a normal tin of wood stain but will that give me as good a result?
Comments
You won't need grain filler for alder but with a very light finish you can expect some of the wood texture to show. Building up more lacquer or Tru-oil will eventually full the grain.
There are now several alternatives to gunstock oil, true oil and Danish oil to finishing guitar bodies and necks. Over the last few months there has been a lot talked about Crimson Guitars tools for building guitars and setting up guitars, and how reasonably priced they are compared to bringing in the equivalent tools from America. I had a look on their website and found they sell a complete alternative system for hand finishing guitars, with some outstanding colours and a new type of oil finish. I presume it’s an oil finish doesn’t actually say. I’ve now purchased four of his colours and a bottle of his finishing oil. I haven’t used the finishing oil yet, I have used some of his colours and they are outstanding. First of all you get an awful lot of colour for your money compared to anything else I’ve ever purchased, the colours of vivid and very strong. First thing I noticed was that when you apply this colour it soaks straight into the wood unlike some other wood finishes that just seem to sit on the surface and can be very blotchy. It gives a very even colour on all types of grain surfaces, keeping a very constant colour whether it’s on the flat of the wood or the end grain. It also dries really fast. The first picture is of a Swamp Ash super jazz body that I’m making the present time. There is only one coat of colour on this (Amber). As you can see, although it’s translucent, it’s a very strong colour with no blotching or streaking. You don’t have to rob this hard into the wood just a small amount of colour on a rag and wipe it over, it only took a couple of minutes to achieve what you can see in the picture.
I left the colour to dry overnight then applied an oil finish to it, this is not Crimson Guitars oil finish but an oil finish from Morrell’s call Eze Oil, I’ve been using for a couple of years now.
Eze Oil is very different from any of the oils I have use in the past, in that it dries almost instantly, plus the first couple of coats soak well into the wood. This means you can apply five or six coats in a morning no problem at all. The next day I de-nib it with very fine wire wool using lemon oil as a lubricant, this gives you a nice satin finish. If you want a gloss finish you can apply one more coat maybe two, leave this to dry overnight and that’s the neck finished. The same technique can be applied to finishing bodies. A word of caution when applying Eze Oil use as little as possible making sure there are no runs or streaks, as it sets like concrete overnight.
As I said earlier I been using Eze Oil for about two years now, it is without doubt in my opinion the easiest quickest and toughest oil finish I’ve ever used.
The above photo is a T/C made from Alder with 6 coats of Eze Oil (no colour).
A "F" hole T/C again no colour just 6 coats of Eze Oil.
Two T/C necks with 6 coats of Eze Oil rubbed down with very fine wire wool using lemon oil as a lubricant. I would say you can start to assemble your guitar within 3 to 4 days after you've applied the first coat of Eze Oil.
Your life will improve when you realise it’s better to be alone than chase people who do not really care about you. Saying YES to happiness means learning to say NO to things and people that stress you out.
https://www.facebook.com/grahame.pollard.39/
Feedback
Instagram
Instagram
Instagram
Edit - just seen the crimson guitars stuff that gsp recommends, is that a good bet?
I've had great results from powder dyes, I got mine from Keda Dyes http://www.kedadyeinc.com/
these go a long way and can be mixed with warm water or alcohol, best of both worlds
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/61134/sarge/p1
Instagram
Your life will improve when you realise it’s better to be alone than chase people who do not really care about you. Saying YES to happiness means learning to say NO to things and people that stress you out.
https://www.facebook.com/grahame.pollard.39/
Feedback
Yes I do use Eze Oil on Maple fingerboards. I did this for the first time about two years ago, the fingerboards are not showing any sign of wearing through the oil finish. Unlike another wipe on finished I used a few years back that was showing signs of wearing through in about three months, and then completely through in places after about six months. The great thing about Eze Oil the first 2 -3 coats soak completely into the maple, and does not sit on the surface, so I would imagine even when it did start to wear it would take a very long time before you got through to the wood. I apply the oil to Maple fingerboards slightly different to how I do the bodies, on the first day I put on 5 to 6 coats, I leave this overnight then give the fingerboard light rubdown with wire wool using lemon oil as a lubricant. I then apply another 2 to 3 coats leave this for another 24 hours then give this a light rubdown with wire wool and lemon oil. This will give you a very nice satin finish, or it will polish up with something like G 10, but if you want a natural gloss then after the rub down give it one more coat of Eze Oil and this will give you a very glossy finish.
Your life will improve when you realise it’s better to be alone than chase people who do not really care about you. Saying YES to happiness means learning to say NO to things and people that stress you out.
https://www.facebook.com/grahame.pollard.39/