Look wot I dun!! (Explorer make-over)

[gwEm]

the hardware store had just about every colour except Colron 'deep mahogany' which was sold out.. i expect people reading this thread went out to refin their guitars :)

Anyway, I got Rustin's 'brown mahogany', I was tempted to get the Colron 'red mahogany' but decided not to take any risks. I've just done the back, and it looks good (perhaps a shade dark, but not too much). I'll do the front when I come back from the pub later. It was very easy to apply, I just rubbed it on with some denim rag - not patchy at all. I guess the Danish Oil will be the hard bit.

[gwEm]

last (fourth) coat of danish oil just gone on. some clear briwax waiting in the wings. when the danish oil dries out the finish isn't really glossy as I imagined. i noticed the difference in absorbtion between each coat. i applied every layer with finest grade wire wool.

[Philly Q]

last (fourth) coat of danish oil just gone on. some clear briwax waiting in the wings. when the danish oil dries out the finish isn't really glossy as I imagined. i noticed the difference in absorbtion between each coat. i applied every layer with finest grade wire wool.

Dumb question, but are you oiling one side at a time, or do you have it hung up somehow so you can rotate it?

[gwEm]

last (fourth) coat of danish oil just gone on. some clear briwax waiting in the wings. when the danish oil dries out the finish isn't really glossy as I imagined. i noticed the difference in absorbtion between each coat. i applied every layer with finest grade wire wool.

Dumb question, but are you oiling one side at a time, or do you have it hung up somehow so you can rotate it?

i'm oiling one side at a time. once i wipe off the excess on one side i turn it over and do the other. then i prop the body up so both sides can get exposed to the air. i'm hoping this is a good technique!

edit:
i'm actually find things fairly easy so far - maybe the briwax will be tricky. by taking my time and following this thread plus some old stuff from Wez this is going quite well. depending on how the waxing goes, i may do this again... perhaps even have a go at making my own body(!)

[AndyR]

With the Explorer I did the oil as shifts of neck-only and body-only coats. When I did the neck I laid the thing on the table. When I did the body it was hanging on it's stand (with the bottom bit removed so the guitar hung free). If I was doing a strat body, I'd probably do the same as you.

I actually found the Briwax stage easier - but I was vaguely used to using it on furniture and other stuff.

With the Danish Oil, I was getting a lovely satin sort of effect (what I wanted) until I went for the last coat - that came up shiny! Also there was some inconsistency added in that last coat... I think I might have been too generous on that last one, it certainly took longer to dry than the others did. I managed to "fix" the inconsistency and shinyness it by applying the Briwax with wire wool.

If I were to go through it again, I think I would wire wool a "bad" last layer like that and go for another layer of Danish Oil. But I was in a bit of a rush by the end.

Wez might be able to help on something though: my impression is that if I want to do more Danish Oil layers now, I'd have to get the wax layer stripped off first - is that right Wez? (I have no intention of going through this myself, I'm aiming at a "Briwax and playing" build-up... But it might be worth Gwem knowing whether this is the case or not!)

Even on first attempt, it came out far more "professional" than I was expecting it to, so I'd definitely take the job on again. It was kinda satisfying doing it...

It was a good job the wife was away for two weeks though - she only saw the finished effect and the "re-tidied" flat! She was very impressed with the guitar... if she'd witnessed what had happened to the kitchen and living room, and how all life had to move around a lump of wood with stuff on it for a week and a half, she might have had one or two issues with me... :lol:

[FernandoDuarte]

people, please stop BUMPING this thread...






... it's giving me Explorer's GAS :(

[AndyR]

Bumpity bump bump BUMP!

:lol:

(Don't worry Fernando, soon Gwem will be posting a "Look at my lovely mahogany strat" thread :D)

[FernandoDuarte]

Confessing time: I've ordered a Explorer template from Guitar Building Template yesterday  :oops: :(

[WezV]

it is an easy finish to do - the hardest part would have been getting the dye consistent but if you are past that it should be fine

you wont be able to put more oil on after the wax stage - just build it up with more wax occasionally if it needs it.

mahogany will soak up a lot and stay dry looking longer - than other woods... but have you wetsanded with the oil?   Its a tricky stage as you may lose a little of the stain, worth starting with 800-1000 wet & dry- but if you did a wetsand coat of oil you would find it starts to get really smooth.   Basically the stain and oil can raise any rough grain and give a coarser texture.  the wetsanding takes care of that.  it never gets glossy the way tru-oil does

lets have a dig for reference:
Just wet-sanded danish oil on imbuya

and wenge


danish Oil & wax:



tru-oil:


stain + oil & wax

[gwEm]

thanks for the tips wez.

this morning i found last night's oil coat has dried satin gloss for the first time. despite my impatience to get a working instrument i might throw on one more for luck. i haven't wetsanded, but I have used wire wool at every stage and massaged the oil in. i'm certain this has helped alot with the consistency.

the grain on this bit of mahogany is pretty tight, I have the feeling the guy might have used a bit of grain filler.

lovely firebird by the way ;)

[Philly Q]

lovely firebird by the way ;)

+1!

[AndyR]

Glad I didn't know the stain/dye was the hardest stage! I just wopped it on like the can said, didn't seem too difficult, no problems encountered (apart from melted gloves). If I'd known it was meant to be the difficult stage, I'd probably have messed it up... :roll: :lol:

(EDIT: After posting, I realised that I have a fair amount of experience of painting in various mediums, that's probably why I felt no fear when I started with the stain. If I hadn't had that "omigod!" experience of whacking the first oil on a canvas I might have hesitated while I was doing it - I suspect that might be one of the causes of getting inconsistencies in the stain)

And another +1 on the Firebird. I'm not a big fan of them, but that does look fabulous.

Keep as patient as possible Gwem - especially at the end.

I found the oiling, after the first coat of "that wasn't too difficult", somewhat stressful in an "am I doing the right thing?" sort of way. I only stopped oiling because I didn't want it to get any shinier - sounds like in your case another layer for luck might be a good thing.

The waxing, on the other hand, I find very theraputic... rub some on, leave it for a bit then buff it off. If I could have got away with just waxing and no oil I would have done - it just felt like the thing needed a little more protection than that.


Anyway, we're waiting for the results, Gwem :D

Confessing time: I've ordered a Explorer template from Guitar Building Template yesterday  :oops: :(

Whoops! :lol:

Nice one :)

(But I hope Wez's pics haven't made you order anything else!)

[FernandoDuarte]

(But I hope Wez's pics haven't made you order anything else!)

I ain't got money, but surelly I had the wish... Like his work a lot!

[gwEm]

Glad I didn't know the stain/dye was the hardest stage! I just wopped it on like the can said, didn't seem too difficult, no problems encountered (apart from melted gloves). If I'd known it was meant to be the difficult stage, I'd probably have messed it up... :roll: :lol:

yeah, i just threw it on too! :)

i slipped and split alot of danish oil all over the body on the last-one-for-luck coat. i wirewooled it in though, think its ok.. at least none went on the carpet. we'll see tomorrow.

[Telerocker]

The Firebird is killer!