Stroopy121 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Hey, Apologies if this is in the wrong sub-forum. Anyway, I have a maple neck, with maple board. I want to paint the headstock, add a decal then finish with tru oil or similar. In my head the process would be: Paint headstock Sand paint Repaint if necessary repeat till pretty. add decal oil - 3 coats sand another 3 coats of oil Now, first of all - is that right to paint the headstock then oil over it? Or should it go oil - paint - decal - more oil? Or what..? Next - should I just oil the maple board the same as I plan to with the rest of the neck? Should I mask the board and leave it unfinished...? Etc etc. Have found a few tips on finishing the NECK but it's all been using rosewood and always said to mask it and not finish it, but I'm not sure if I should do the same with a maple board? Any help appreciated, Ta xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthevan Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I'm not expert, but generally paint doesn't go over oil very well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 You will need to clearcoat over paint. Oil is for wood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master blaster Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I'm pretty sure you'd need to use a clear coat lacquer over the decal not oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stroopy121 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 This is why I'm glad I asked. So I paint and decal, oil the neck (but don't oil the painted headstock) and then laquer over the headstock? Or should I ditch the oil altogether if I want to paint and just go with an all over laquer? Sorry if these are n00b questions, but I'm a n00b to this. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthevan Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 personally, i'd get all your painting / laquering done before you even think about oiling anything. Oil and paint don't go together well, so keep it out the mix til you're happy with your paint finish. What is the oil for? Fretboard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Yup - I agree with the above. I would stick with paint / lacquer and avoid oil. If you don't want to faff about with varnish spray cans, then standard polyurethane varnish (eg Ronseal Hardglaze Clear Varnish), thinned down by around 30% with standard decorators White Spirit, can be applied very successfully by hand, using a microfibre cloth (again - available all over the place). This was done like that, and a painted one would come out just as well: Hope this helps! Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stroopy121 Posted January 24, 2013 Author Share Posted January 24, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1358790056' post='1945069'] Yup - I agree with the above. I would stick with paint / lacquer and avoid oil. If you don't want to faff about with varnish spray cans, then standard polyurethane varnish (eg Ronseal Hardglaze Clear Varnish), thinned down by around 30% with standard decorators White Spirit, can be applied very successfully by hand, using a microfibre cloth (again - available all over the place). This was done like that, and a painted one would come out just as well: Hope this helps! Andy [/quote] Godsend, thank you. The reason I was thinking about using oil was that I had found a few folks recommending it as it can give a nice, fast finish to a neck and be reasonably easy to apply - I hadn't thought you could use varnish without having to spray it on and was worried about runs in it etc etc. xx Edited January 24, 2013 by Stroopy121 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Is the neck already polyestered? e.g. on the back? Oil won't get you anywhere with that and speed. To get a fast neck, wet and dry it with say, 1200 grit. As for fingerboards, rosewood isn't finished. Maple generally is... unless you are with the Musicman crowd and like your necks getting grubby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettsguitars Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 It is very important to know what finish, if any is already on a piece before you start throwing other products at it. If the neck has a natural finish then you can wax it which is slightly more protective and harder than oil. Just laquer the headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 [quote name='Stroopy121' timestamp='1359033407' post='1948715'] Godsend, thank you. The reason I was thinking about using oil was that I had found a few folks recommending it as it can give a nice, fast finish to a neck and be reasonably easy to apply - I hadn't thought you could use varnish without having to spray it on and was worried about runs in it etc etc. xx [/quote]I used truoil for all of my original veneer jobs (see avatar and/or web site) thinking the same. Then followed a web tip ref wiped thinned varnish and wow! - even easier and MUCH better result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stroopy121 Posted January 25, 2013 Author Share Posted January 25, 2013 Hmmmmmmmm. I'm so glad I didn't just jump into this one!! Looking and feeling it, it really does just feel like bare wood. Will try to get some pics and see if any of y'all can help me work out what's there. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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