Stub Mandrel Posted November 21, 2021 Author Share Posted November 21, 2021 I've learned a lot about sanding! Patience with 600 grit gets rid of 'smeared' textures left by the original shaping of the body, even though they didn't look like a fault. Also a tip on line for sanding back red/orange after staining, then doing everything in yellow really brings out the paler medullary rays. This pic before adding a touch more red around the corners where there were a few 'thin' patches. Sadly, in the 20 seconds between doing the yellow and taking the pic, the alcohol had flashed off making the figure less dramatic. Hopefully the tung oil will bring it back. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 6 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said: Hopefully the tung oil will bring it back. Yes, it certainly will Going to be a beaut! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted November 21, 2021 Author Share Posted November 21, 2021 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Andyjr1515 said: Yes, it certainly will Going to be a beaut! By gum, you're right, one coat of tung oil cut with white spirit, and it's amazing. I really have to work hard to have the patience to do something like this properly, but it's paying off. Thanks for the guidance and encouragement. Sucked in and touch dry within a few hours, but rather than rush, I'm leaving until tomorrow for the next coat. Just to add, I went for purple over the red around the sides and just onto the very edges front and back. I did a test on some similar scrap wood first (mahogany face ply) and rather than purple it's given a lovely plum colour that looks great grading into red then orange and yellow. Also, and this was a surprise, unlike the red, the purple made the mahogany grain on the sides leap out, and it's a bold s-shaped curve which was quite unexpected. But wow the burl looks amazing with the tung oil. Edited November 21, 2021 by Stub Mandrel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted November 22, 2021 Author Share Posted November 22, 2021 After today's second bit of tung. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 (edited) Firey! There be Dragons... Edited November 22, 2021 by PaulThePlug 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 This is going to look great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted November 22, 2021 Author Share Posted November 22, 2021 No pressure 🤣 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted November 26, 2021 Author Share Posted November 26, 2021 Sixth coat of Tung oil today. Seems to be building up so I will do my first sand and slurry tomorrow. 😰 To be honest it looks great when the oil goes on but fades as it dries. Not too worried about filling the grain so will take it very gently, I want a satin finish not gloss. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share Posted December 1, 2021 No more coats since Friday and after five days in the warm it's finally stopping feeling quite so 'waxy'. I'm starting to realise tung oil != tru-oil. It isn't building up, it just keeps soaking in. Note this is pure tung oil, not a modified one. It looks good at the moment, but is unprotected and the finish is uneven as in some bits matt, some shiny, most in-between. I also worry it's getting a little darker with each coat. I think I'll park the slurry idea and instead go for applying a coat of microcrystalline clear satin wax or two, once it feels completely unsticky, which I guess will be a couple of days now as most of it feels OK. I think a high gloss would highlight imperfections and the holes in the timber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted December 19, 2021 Author Share Posted December 19, 2021 This is how it turned out, darker and less contrast than I'd hoped. Pure tung oil probably wasn't the best choice; I hadn't understood how different it is from tru-oil. Also, I think I overdid the stain, I should have sanded it back more. The restoration wax (satin finish), I could have built it up even more, but it was starting to leave white residue in the holes. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 59 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: This is how it turned out, darker and less contrast than I'd hoped. Pure tung oil probably wasn't the best choice; I hadn't understood how different it is from tru-oil. Also, I think I overdid the stain, I should have sanded it back more. The restoration wax (satin finish), I could have built it up even more, but it was starting to leave white residue in the holes. I’m waiting on my finishing oil at the moment - have both the Crimson penetrating and high build oil on order. I’ve sanded back quite a bit on the medium scale body, and it’s really very light now - even tempted to get the wire wool on it and give it a final going over. I’ve noticed when wet it’s a lot darker. I wonder if the slight tint to tung oil has darkened yours more.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 2 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said: This is how it turned out, darker and less contrast than I'd hoped. Pure tung oil probably wasn't the best choice; I hadn't understood how different it is from tru-oil. Also, I think I overdid the stain, I should have sanded it back more. The restoration wax (satin finish), I could have built it up even more, but it was starting to leave white residue in the holes. Dark or not - that's flippin' gorgeous 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 Classy Tele that. Reminds me of some of the instruments built by Wormwood. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.