Oil finish on a guitar?

[KeeperOS]

Re: Oil finish on a guitar?

Sorry to hijack the thread but what would in your experience consider the best finish for a good, smooth non-sticky feel that doesn't peel off and properly protects the wood?

I'm thinking of building a custom parts axe and want to save myself some money on finish but without compromising feel and protection.
That axe will stay natural color so I was thinking of some type of oil or another.

Your thoughts?

 

[octavedoctor]

Re: Oil finish on a guitar?

Tru-oil is the biz.

I use it almost exclusively for maple neck refrets. It's incredibly durable. I did a telecaster neck with it eight years ago and it still looks good today.

 

[scottish]

Re: Oil finish on a guitar?

Sorry to hijack the thread but what would in your experience consider the best finish for a good, smooth non-sticky feel that doesn't peel off and properly protects the wood?

I'm thinking of building a custom parts axe and want to save myself some money on finish but without compromising feel and protection.
That axe will stay natural color so I was thinking of some type of oil or another.

Your thoughts?

if you are talking about for a neck...then i can 1st hand recommend satin nitro lacquer from stew mac. i hear oil finish on necks is the shizzle but i havent first hand experienced that. the difference between a satin and a gloss lacquer finish on a neck is huge though

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Oil finish on a guitar?

The easiest finish in the world to put on a guitar is a wipe on Tung Oil... It took me three coats or something like that. Wiped it on with a painters rag. Waterproof, hard, and very good looking. Me on the other hand... not so good looking...
View attachment 8474

Tung oil is like 5 bucks for a can.. that would do a guitar and a neck...

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Oil finish on a guitar?

Both neck and body. As I said I'll be keeping it all natural so I was thinking of the best for good looks and proper protection...

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Oil finish on a guitar?

The easiest finish in the world to put on a guitar is a wipe on Tung Oil... It took me three coats or something like that. Wiped it on with a painters rag. Waterproof, hard, and very good looking. Me on the other hand... not so good looking...
View attachment 8474

Tung oil is like 5 bucks for a can.. that would do a guitar and a neck...

Ah, yep, that's what I had in mind.

So, Tru oil of some sort, right?
Or tru oil isn't for bodies so tung oil for the body instead?

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Oil finish on a guitar?

Tung Oil for bodies, true oil would be better on a neck i suppose. My neck is poly. But I can't stress enough how easy it was to put that tung oil on... I did it in my bedroom with a rag...

 

[scottish]

Re: Oil finish on a guitar?

personally, from what ive read here and a few other sources, i would tru-oil the body. thats def what ill be doing

 

[aloha]

Re: Oil finish on a guitar?

I've used Watco oil on Flamed Koa and Cedar with great results. Both have gotten an incredible shine. I finished it at the end with a coat of wood finishing orange wax (or 5).

It's a beautiful instrument. Everyone that sees it just drops their jaws.

Z

 

[Baltar]

Re: Oil finish on a guitar?

i used this product....
http://www.rockinger.com/index.php?cat=WG182&product=09040/09049
seems to be some tung oil mixed with wax?

 

[theodie]

Re: Oil finish on a guitar?

Tung Oil for bodies, true oil would be better on a neck i suppose. My neck is poly. But I can't stress enough how easy it was to put that tung oil on... I did it in my bedroom with a rag...

No.....you can use Truoil for both!!!

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Oil finish on a guitar?

i used this product....
http://www.rockinger.com/index.php?cat=WG182&product=09040/09049
seems to be some tung oil mixed with wax?

Same here. The rockinger product is essentially tung oil with fine wax in the bottom. You apply the oil normally, and then if you prefer the feel of the pore sealing wax (or the sheen), then you hake the bottle and apply a few coats with the wax particles in suspension, then buff it out after curing.

That said I currently have 4 guitars with oiled necks, 2 with raw(!), 1 lacquer and the rest are poly. I much enjoy all of them, but for my personal "will never sell" instruments the necks go down to bare wood and then get polished all teh way up to OOOO steel wool