How I refinish (or finish) necks

[Ayrton]

I had planned to post this thread once the neck were finished. However, since a few people asked, so I will start it now. You will just have to wait for the final product.

After years of using Warmoth, USACG, and Musikraft for necks (with varying results) I finally have a great neck guy (who I cannot name) who is kind enough to allow me to get necks from time to time. Since my guy does not have a Fender license, I get the necks with the "USACG style" nib on them, and I have to do the final shaping.

Raw quartersawn maple...

To handle the shaping, I have a template pulled from one of my strat necks. You can see how little has to be removed. Fender headstock shapes varied over the years, so it does not have to be perfect. My template came from a Road Worn neck.

A quick pass on the router table...

Just to show you that mistakes can happen to anyone, and you learn to deal with them. I managed to miss the guide here, and "nibbled" my neck.

A little sanding and blending (wiped with naphtha)

Now, I don't care for lacquer on necks, and really don't want to deal with the process required to spray it. I like Tru Oil on my necks, but these necks need to have a "vintage" look. I start with Watco "Golden Oak" tinted oil.

You can see just how much it changes the look.

Now, if this were a Charvel neck, we would be done. You can buff out the oil at this point and rock out.

I let the oil dry for a few days, and then I start to the Tru Oil...

...to be continued.

 

[J E C]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

I do like the amber color that oil gives the neck. How do you like that vice? Is it from StewMac?

 

[StoRMiE]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

I'm sold, It's not even done and it looks fantastic.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

THROW IT AWAY START AGAIN MISTER FAILURE just kidding. I'm looking forward to seeing where the truoil will take it.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

Hey Ayrton, not to derail your thread, but I need some input from a seasoned refin guy. I've got this bound jackson neck that has started to green quite a bit around the binding where moisture is seeping into the wood, and the binding has a noticeable edge. Can/should I sand it level around the binding and put something on it like wipe on poly (satin poly original finish)? I'd rather not do the whole neck, so that's the root of my dilemma, otherwise I'd just shoot it. I've got some minwax tung oil finish if that would be better, I dunno, I was gonna try it for a project and never did... whatever.

What do you recommend?

 

[Ayrton]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

CA (superglue)

I have not tried this stuff, but it is the same basic concept.

http://www.gearupproducts.com/

 

[Ayrton]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

One thing I forgot to mention was that a sealed neck will not soak up the same amount of Watco as a raw piece of wood. Warmoth, Musikraft, Mighty Mite, and I think Allparts all ship necks with a thin sealer sprayed on.

You will want to start with an unsealed neck if you can. You can sand the neck (like in a refinish), but you have to pay attention that you get even sanding or you will end up with blotches where the oil has soaked in unevenly.

The good news is you can go back and apply more to even out the color. Trial and error, trial and error.

I learned all this by watching, asking questions, and trial and error.

 

[CTN]

I was gonna suggest pigment or sawdust impregnated CA glue or clear epoxy.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

How do you like that vice? Is it from StewMac?

Yes, and I like it so much, I will probably buy another.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

Here we are with two spray on coats of Tru Oil. I wipe on the back of necks, but maple boards and headstocks get the spray (much faster).

I block smooth and apply the logo at this point.

 

[synzzzer]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

Thanks for all the info. Finishing has always been my downfall. I am terrible at it. Also, thanks for the info on the Watco Danish Oil. It's nice that you can find it at Home Depot. That makes it very easy. Again, thank you ever so much.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

After the logo, and one spray on coat.

The fret board with the three coats

I will shoot one more coat over the whole neck before letting fully harden over a few days.

 

[CTN]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

Gnarly. Never heard of anyone spraying tru oil before, what a novel idea!

Is it self leveling? Or do you need to sand/level between coats?

 

[Ayrton]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

Gnarly. Never heard of anyone spraying tru oil before, what a novel idea!

Is it self leveling? Or do you need to sand/level between coats?

Very self leveling, and the smoother the surface, the better it levels. I spray on a couple of coats (no sanding in between), and then block it with 1000 wet. The coats after that level well enough that just buffing is usually all that's needed.

This is what it looks like right after you spray, and then 30 minutes later.

 

[CTN]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

Awesome, thanks! I gotta try that on my next build

 

[Ayrton]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

I am done with the Tru Oil at this point, and will let it sit up for a couple of days before the next step. I am currently doing two reverse necks for a couple of relic strats, so the relic part comes next.

I would like to stress that I am a total noob at this kind of stuff, and I learned most of it the hard way. My methods are by no means the only (or best) way, and I am always on the hunt for ways to improve.

 

[Ironikaika]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

Great post! Thanks much.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

All buffed and ready to relic mg: Depending on your desired results, you can bury the decal in multiple layers, and block to a dead flat finish. I need these to look like vintage necks, so the decal edge shows, and as soon as I get a guitar off my bench, I will start the relic.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

Out of curiosity...what's the easiest way to clean the TruOil from the frets?

Love the way the TruOil spray leveled on the fretboard. I'm doing it old school and having pretty good luck, but that would have been easier and saved a headache to two for sure.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: How I refinish (or finish) necks

Depends on how much you want to remove. You will remove the oil when you level/polish the frets, or you can score where the fret meets the wood (lightly) and scrape it off.

On Fender necks I try to score a line just above the board, and scrape most of the oil off before doing the final polish. The oil comes right off the frets, so it goes easier than it sounds.

I highly recommend these sanding sticks. You file a groove down the center, and that fits right over the fret. You can do the same with a piece of wood, but the sticks are cheap and easy to find.