tung oil or tru oil?

[Chickenwings]

Ive got a neck being made up at warmoth for my jazz bass. Its goncalo alves with ebony on the board. I belive goncalo is used for smith and wesson gunstocks. I want it to feel natural, so which oil? Tru oil, tung oil, linseed oil, danish oil? whats the scoop folks? Ive even got some shellac in my cupboard, maybe i can make a really thin solution?
Also id like to put a decal on the headstock...will waterslide decals stick to natural wood finishes? If so...does it need to go on before i oil it? If i put the oil on later, will it ruin the waterslide?
Questions questions...thanks fellas.

 

[jtougas]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

Actually goncalo alves doesn't *need* anything, but if I were to use anything, it'd be tung oil.

Goncalo is very close pored, and has a dense, waxy texture - not much open grain at all.

Let us know how it sounds - I've got some goncalo waiting for just that use.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

ok tung oil...just a light coating perhaps if at all....thanks. do you know anything about waterslide decals and natural finishes?

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

I'm inclined to think the waterslide decals need a glassy surface to a) be able to be applied properly, and b) remain looking good.

When I set up a Warmoth neck for a Strat, I sprayed the face of the headstock with clear so that i could cut and polish it to a glassy finish, applied the decals and then more clear gloss. All the rest of the neck is TruOil.

I suspect that putting a decal on raw wood is likely to become problematic over time (you're going to get water into the wood pores while applying the decals, that will then be trapped). I've never put a decal onto raw wood so i can't say for sure, but personally i wouldn't take the risk because i suspect it would deteriorate with age. But i may be completely wrong about that.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

I'm inclined to think the waterslide decals need a glassy surface to a) be able to be applied properly, and b) remain looking good.

When I set up a Warmoth neck for a Strat, I sprayed the face of the headstock with clear so that i could cut and polish it to a glassy finish, applied the decals and then more clear gloss. All the rest of the neck is TruOil.

I suspect that putting a decal on raw wood is likely to become problematic over time (you're going to get water into the wood pores while applying the decals, that will then be trapped). I've never put a decal onto raw wood so i can't say for sure, but personally i wouldn't take the risk because i suspect it would deteriorate with age. But i may be completely wrong about that.

Yep, decals like a gloss surface. I know that from working on models. Even on models that are going to have a matte finish in the end, you gloss coat them first in order to put the decals on. Then you matte coat the model after the decals are dry.

There are versions of tung oil with additives that allow you to make a somewhat glossy surface. I have that surface on my dining room table. I think a decal would stick to it OK. Not as well as a super-glossy finish, but probably pretty well.

I had a Fender decal on the bare wood of my first guitar for over 15 years. No damage to the wood from applying the decal, but it was prone to flaking. Little bits of it came off from time to time. I only recently removed it entirely because I wanted to do some work on the neck. I was able to scrape it off with a 1.14 mm pick; no chemicals or abrasion required. So they really don't stick to bare wood very much at all.

So I would research ways of obtaining a gloss finish with tung oil, and go with that. You could also do the gloss surface just on the face of the peghead, and have the rest of the neck semi-matte like a traditional oil finish.

Be sure to test out whatever you plan on doing on some scrap wood first.

 

[uOpt]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

Tru oil will form a hard surface and protect the wood against excessive reactions to environmental changes.

Tung oil will not. That's why a tung oil only coat voids Warmoth's warranty.

Tru oil (plus wax) is what Music Man puts on it's necks.

 

[Hecubus]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

Tru oil. About 5 coats will give you a glossy headstock. No problems with waterslides. Do one or two more coats over the decal. Jmo

 

[jtougas]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

Goncalo's a pretty stable wood, but it will move a little with humidity changes.

But a tung oil finish with something else on the headstock face for the waterslide to stick to should do you fine.

The other benefit to tung oil is that you can give the neck a light sanding and use something else if you don't like it.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

Tru oil will form a hard surface and protect the wood against excessive reactions to environmental changes.

Tung oil will not. That's why a tung oil only coat voids Warmoth's warranty.

Tru oil (plus wax) is what Music Man puts on it's necks.

this neck needs no finish for warranty...thats half the reason i went for goncalo.
but lotsa ppl including you are saying tru oil, so that sounds cool.
Tru oil...and then some extra tru oil on the head so the decal will stick as hecubus recommends. cool!
thanks for your help fellas!

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

Check out the Luthier's Mercantile page on Tru-Oil finishing. It has a lot of good info.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

I am redoing a Charvel neck with birchwood caseys tru-oil and i want a semi gloss finish for this neck? how many coats for that sheen? and what about in between coats steel wool only?

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

how many coats for that sheen? and what about in between coats steel wool only?

Yes, ONLY use steel wool, 0000 gauge. That will leave the finish pretty matte, probably a light rub with a soft cloth will give it a little sheen. If you steel wool the neck between coats, be sure to clean the neck thoroughly to remove any fine steel particles. You only need to rub the steel wool very lightly, don't use a lot of pressure.

TruOil is not entirely clear, so as you build coats, the colour will darken somewhat. You may want that on the back of the neck, but it would probably be best to stick to just a couple of coats over the decal.

 

[jtougas]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

What ^he^ said. Yup.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

be careful with your decal and an oil finish. I've just bought some waterslide decals and it specifically warns not to use with tru oil or any other oil finish. I don't know if thats true to all decals though.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

mebbe ill just skip the decal. Its only for looks anyway.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

mebbe ill just skip the decal. Its only for looks anyway.

it might be ok. it might just be mine thats not compatiable with tru oil. check with whoever you bought it from.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

ive emailed the decal manufacturer a few days back and got no answer. Thirty dollar decals deserve a response to an email i reckon. Mebbe he doesn't want the business. Thats why im asking you guys, i knew id get some answers!

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: tung oil or tru oil?

You can always finish the face of the headstock in something that you know is decal safe, and do the rest with the oil. Fender did that when they switched to poly finishes in the '60's. They kept the face of the head lacquer.