|
|
Post by yorkie on Jun 5, 2013 19:46:00 GMT
Hello (again) everyone  Not sure if this is the place to geek out about guitar making - if not someone tell me. Just finishing the latest build and fancy an oil finish (I have tru oil). Anyone used tru oil on a soundboard before? I don't know if it will dampen the tone - maybe French polish the top and oil the rest? Opinions appreciated. |
|
davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,548
|
Post by davewhite on Jun 5, 2013 20:04:39 GMT
Yorkie,
Yes I've used Tru-oil and soundboards. It's a short oil and so dries on the surface and doesn't really penetrate. Use multiple thin coats wiping off the excess and do about three or four coats max per day allowing good time for drying. I've also done it applied over a thin shellac/French polish - either work well. Colin Symonds put me on to Liberon Finishing oil which is very similar to Tru-oil, cheaper and easier to get hold of - Axminster sell it for example.
When dried fully - allow a few weeks you can buff Tru-oil or Finishing oil up with micromesh or use rottenstone - you won't get a shiny car gloss finish but that's not the point, you will get that lovely lustre of true wood that oil and FP finishes give you. It's not as durable a finish as lacquer but it's pretty easy to apply extra coats where necessary as it wears.
|
|
|
|
Post by yorkie on Jun 5, 2013 20:09:26 GMT
Cheers Dave
No significant affect on sound then in your experience?
|
|
davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,548
|
Post by davewhite on Jun 5, 2013 20:17:53 GMT
Cheers Dave No significant affect on sound then in your experience? This baritone guitar "Treebeard" has a Tru-oiled Euro Spruce top applied about nine years ago so judge for yourself: "Carolan's Welcome"In my experience (having had to sand out Tru-oiled tops months/years after application) it doesn't penetrate any more than shellac so there's no "excessive" damping. Some say a thin finish like FP or oil gives a more responsive instrument but I believe that any finish done at the proper thickness works as well for steel strings (classicals are a different proposition) and my preference is for a thin hand rubbed pre-catalysed lacquer finish, but Tru-oil will be fine. |
|
|
|
Post by yorkie on Jun 6, 2013 8:39:57 GMT
Great, thanks Dave. I'll seal with a shellac wash then tru oil over it so the rosewood and purfling don't bleed.
|
|
davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,548
|
Post by davewhite on Jun 6, 2013 8:51:21 GMT
Yorkie,
I really like using the Liberon Special Pale French Polish for this purpose - ready mixed for you too.
|
|
|
|
Post by yorkie on Jun 6, 2013 10:11:32 GMT
Yes, I can't remember if it was you or Sam that recommended it ages ago, but I've used it on the last 2 builds. Good stuff.
|
|
garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 460 
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
|
Post by garynava on Jun 6, 2013 15:58:09 GMT
I always get my Tru-Oil on eBay, a little goes a long way, so I wouldn't be put off by the price.
Cheers Gary
|
|
|
|
Post by yorkie on Jun 6, 2013 17:08:06 GMT
I always get my Tru-Oil on eBay, a little goes a long way, so I wouldn't be put off by the price. Cheers Gary Cheers Gary - I hope you are well. I already have a half litre - should last me a while  |
|
garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 460
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
|
Post by garynava on Jun 7, 2013 15:49:33 GMT
I always get my Tru-Oil on eBay, a little goes a long way, so I wouldn't be put off by the price. Cheers Gary Cheers Gary - I hope you are well. I already have a half litre - should last me a while Half litre!!!!!!!!!! I only buy 90ml at a time- usually use it on two instruments- the rest goes hard and gets thrown away! |
|
davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,548
|
Post by davewhite on Jun 7, 2013 16:24:42 GMT
I always get my Tru-Oil on eBay, a little goes a long way, so I wouldn't be put off by the price. Cheers Gary Cheers Gary - I hope you are well. I already have a half litre - should last me a while Yorkie, I hope it is Tru-oil that you have got and not Tung-oil. Tung-oil definitely will soak into and dampen the top as it's not a short oil. Like Gary says Tru-oil usually comes in very small bottles (although you can get big ones) and does go hard in the bottle over time once you break through the foil seal. Half a litre of Tru-oil would cost about £250  |
|
|
|
Post by yorkie on Jun 7, 2013 16:46:58 GMT
Cheers Gary - I hope you are well. I already have a half litre - should last me a while Yorkie, I hope it is Tru-oil that you have got and not Tung-oil. Tung-oil definitely will soak into and dampen the top as it's not a short oil. Like Gary says Tru-oil usually comes in very small bottles (although you can get big ones) and does go hard in the bottle over time once you break through the foil seal. Half a litre of Tru-oil would cost about £250 £250! it was £13.45 from David Dyke (luthierssupplies). Still on the website at this price. I actually have another 2 of the 75ml birchwood casey bottles in blister packs as well that I got for £1 at a car boot sale. Dave, can I interest you in some tru oil? I'll do it at 50% of the price you've been paying I take on board that it goes off in the bottle though. Maybe it will last a bit longer in a larger container - I hope so. |
|
davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,548
|
Post by davewhite on Jun 7, 2013 16:57:24 GMT
Yorkie, I think that you have a whole new Business Model going for you there - forget about making guitars and go for Tru-oil resale - fracking hell as they say  |
|
|
|
Post by yorkie on Jun 7, 2013 17:05:34 GMT
Yorkie, I think that you have a whole new Business Model going for you there - forget about making guitars and go for Tru-oil resale - fracking hell as they say I'll never have guitar making as a business model, I'm not slick enough... As for selling oil, I think that would be a bit crude...  Let the oil puns commence.  |
|
Jo whoever he is.
