Guitar Finishing

[linthat22]

Gents, I got some grain filler and a slew of sandpaper sheets. I'm going for a Nuno type finish and my stepdad recommended Watco Danish Oil. He's a wood worker, so I'm assuming this might be good, but wanted to see what y'all would recommend.

I still gotta fix the neck pocket as I ordered the wrong neck type (RG vs AZ)

[nightflameauto]

No solid recommendation other than I've had some tung oil finished guitars I really, REALLY loved handling. Just wanna say that's a really cool looking body.

[linthat22]

No solid recommendation other than I've had some tung oil finished guitars I really, REALLY loved handling. Just wanna say that's a really cool looking body.

Thank you sir!

I'll look into tung oil. Did you have to seal it or add anything on top of it?

The body is an Ibanez AZ style, I have another coming, but the bridge will be routed for a Floyd Rose Lo-Profile trem instead of the Eege Lo-Pro and the neck pocket to match a Warmoth Fender neck. Gonna be my James Murphy "Low" homage guitar

[nightflameauto]

My understanding is that tung oil is its own sealer. The way I've used it is to just raise the grain a few times with either pre-treatment or just damp towels, fine sand, repeat a few times until you're satisfied it's not raising anymore, then wipe down with a tack cloth and apply the oil in thin coats. The one I finished myself I did four coats on, but I'm pretty amateur. Still turned out nice.

I did own three Carvins that were tung oiled all alder, neck included. Those things felt like silk. They probably have better technique than my dumb ass.

[linthat22]

My understanding is that tung oil is its own sealer. The way I've used it is to just raise the grain a few times with either pre-treatment or just damp towels, fine sand, repeat a few times until you're satisfied it's not raising anymore, then wipe down with a tack cloth and apply the oil in thin coats. The one I finished myself I did four coats on, but I'm pretty amateur. Still turned out nice.

I did own three Carvins that were tung oiled all alder, neck included. Those things felt like silk. They probably have better technique than my dumb ass.

lol I appreciate you laying out the process and I think I'll go for it. Thank you so much!

[linthat22]

I think it'd be wise if I use a scrap piece of wood first lol

I was about to go whole hog on this thing.

[nightflameauto]

I think it'd be wise if I use a scrap piece of wood first lol

I was about to go whole hog on this thing.

Always a good idea to practice on scrap. Though I didn't, because I'm a moron.

[broslinger]

Tung Oil is good stuff, but make sure it's pure. You don't want some "Tung oil style finish" that is adulterated with cheaper oils.

I use Tru oil now. It works great. You can actually wet sand with tru oil, and it fills the grain beautifully.

thin coats.

lots of coats.

try to do it in a non-humid environment. Use an old jockey undershirt cut into smaller pieces. Don't use a linty cloth.

Make sure to dispose of the oily rags correctly. they can spontaneously combust.