questions about staining.

[ejendres]

Hey guys. I've finished a few guitars with great results but I still think there has to be a better way to stain than how I've been going about it.

My issue is with staining the front/back/sides. Do you guys do it all at once? Or stain the top, let it dry, stain the sides, etc. I have trouble getting even color because I try to do it all in one shot.

The same actually goes for the tru-oil finish I've been doing. I've been doing it in one shot front/back/sides and its very difficult to get an even coat. Do you guys break it up?

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[truckermde]

I've done it both ways, and I think it really boils down to technique, developed with experience.

The stain can be a pain. Practice on test wood to develop your technique for a given stain or dye.

The truoil, I have best results doing many, many, many wipes of very thin coats, gently scuffing between coats every third or fourth one. I've had lovely results doing both hi-gloss, and matte finishes.

I have decided that I prefer to do the whole guitar at once for the truoil. I suspend the guitar upside down using an eyelet screwed into the bottom strap button hole.

 

[Frogfur]

Shorts..? It washes out...

 

[Bill Hicklin]

In my experience, pigment stains never give good results on the top woods commonly used on guitars; the result is usually uneven and blotchy. Dye is the way to go.

 

[JorNak]

Shorts..? It washes out...

I think he was talkin about his underwear

 

[B. Howard]

If the wood varies too much in color it will still show through all but the darkest shades.

And +1 to the dye instead of conventional satin like minwax.

 

[ejendres]

I guess I should have been more specific, I'm using LMI alcohol based dyes.

 

[emoney]

The side "issue" is probably just an endgrain thing with the dye. Have you thought about
using a Preval Sprayer?

More specifically, what issues are you having as it pertains to specific woods? You mention
the "sides and back" are you using the same wood for all of it or what's happening there?
Maple, of course, is known to be "blotchy" regardless of the type stain/dye you're using.
It's a wood thing.

 

[Bill Hicklin]

As for your Tru-oil issue: sounds to me like you're not wiping it off thoroughly enough: the basic rule is to wipe it all off, or at least all of it that will come off. If a clean rag comes away with oil on it, you aren't done yet. Otherwise what's left is a gummy buildup that you'll have to take down with steel wool (yucky job).