Wipe-on poly (water based) for guitars?

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Anyone have any experience with it? I'm trying to get a "bare minimum thin coat" on my project. The bottle states 3 coats, but I've read that pine dents easily. How many coats should I apply?

Here are pics of said guitar:

Before stain:

After:

I love how the back came out, but the front of the guitar just kind of crapped out on me. Still looks cool, I'm hoping it comes out looking decent with everything else.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Wipe-on poly (water based) for guitars?

What poly is it? minwax?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Wipe-on poly (water based) for guitars?

I have no clue about that stuff, I like an oil finish but if you are not wanting it to dent then you will want something thicker than that.

Nice finish btw, I didn't think the front crapped out–just that the back looks better!

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Wipe-on poly (water based) for guitars?

Carefully go back over the lighter areas with more stain using a rag and leaving it on a bit longer this time (not until dry, of course). Might help even out that top a bit...

The pine will be soft and fairly easy to ding regardless of the finish. Unless you paint it with a thick poly using a professional sprayer, I wouldn't worry about the thickness/hardness of any hand-applied, as long as it gives you the look and feel you want and you use enough to protect the wood from the elements.

For DIY hand finishes on bare or stained woods, I'm a huge fan of Tru-Oil. You can do a handful of thinner coats for a satin finish or build it up to a gloss. Really easy to work with and easily repaired, if needed.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Wipe-on poly (water based) for guitars?

What poly is it? minwax?

That's the body without any poly. I stained it with minwax. 1 coat special walnut, 1 coat weathered oak.

Nice finish btw, I didn't think the front crapped out–just that the back looks better!

Thanks! I'm kinda wishing the shop used the back for the front instead lol.

For DIY hand finishes on bare or stained woods, I'm a huge fan of Tru-Oil. You can do a handful of thinner coats for a satin finish or build it up to a gloss. Really easy to work with and easily repaired, if needed.

I do have some tru-oil handy :scratchch I might just add some of that on top of the poly.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[daan]

Re: Wipe-on poly (water based) for guitars?

For "soft" pine bodies, you need some of THIS
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Minwax-1-pt-High-Performance-Wood-Hardener-41700000/100376253

Insert Beavis and Butt-head laugh here...

I don't see why you couldn't put that stuff right over the stain you already did...
I used this stuff on a pine bolt-neck SG body that would dent with just fingernail pressure, and it worked pretty good (went to "basswood strength" afterwards, still dent-able, just not as ridiculously soft as the pine started out at) I would put a bunch of extra around the bridge and neck holes, the Pine can be soft enough to let the bridge move with the string pressure over time. I had a wrap-tail bridge on mine, and it tilted forward enough that I was supposed to cut the wood out and put a block of something harder in it's place so the holes wouldn't oval out.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Wipe-on poly (water based) for guitars?

Insert Beavis and Butt-head laugh here...

Took a spilt second for it to register, but lmao. Jesus, both finger/string pressure can damage it?! I know this body is "knotty pine" - meaning it would probably like the wood harder.

Good thing it's only temporary. Thanks for the heads up. I'll look for it at my local home depot.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Wipe-on poly (water based) for guitars?

i dont like poly but with the oil it works well by adding the stain to the oil for the first few coats. It just helps with making it even and allows for even absorption of the stain. build up to the colour dont try and get it in one go.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Wipe-on poly (water based) for guitars?

i dont like poly but with the oil it works well by adding the stain to the oil for the first few coats. It just helps with making it even and allows for even absorption of the stain. build up to the colour dont try and get it in one go.

Great advice from the man down under!