Oil finishes

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

Oil finishes

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>Lutherie >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

lukemoon

Posts: 60
Joined: Aug. 6 2006

Oil finishes

Anyone have any tips or experiences to share?

cheers

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 10 2006 22:00:04

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: Oil finishes (in reply to lukemoon)

I've experimented with oil finishes. But there are various types of oil available. I like "finishing oil", but some prefer "tung oil". One of my colleagues has just finished his guitar with the "finishing oil" and it looks superb, so I plan to use it on my guitar too. I suspect it would be easier to touch up than a lacquer finish, and tougher than french polish, but I'm not sure on those points, so if anyone knows, please advise!

Cheers,

Jb

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 10 2006 22:16:58

bbeardb

Posts: 23
Joined: Jun. 1 2006

RE: Oil finishes (in reply to JBASHORUN)

I think you have to worry about it soaking into the wood and deadening the sound, whereas lacquer dries on top of the wood. I read somehwere where someone put some oil on that I can't rememeber (so much for remembering) on his top and it soaked through and dripped on the inside.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 11 2006 19:39:28

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: Oil finishes (in reply to bbeardb)

quote:

I read somehwere where someone put some oil on that I can't rememeber (so much for remembering) on his top and it soaked through and dripped on the inside.

That sounds like an exaggeration Bbeardb... I'm guessing the wood must have been excessively thin, or the oil applied excessively liberally/without being allowed to dry. I was under the impression that the first coat of oil sunk in to the surface of the wood, then dried, and further layers just sat on top. But perhaps you are right. I would be interested to hear if anyone has actually made two identical guitars, and finished on with french polish and one with oil- how great would the sound difference be?

Cheers,

Jb

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 11 2006 21:42:47

bbeardb

Posts: 23
Joined: Jun. 1 2006

RE: Oil finishes (in reply to JBASHORUN)

Yeah, that's what I thought too. But I remember him contemplating how he was going to clean the mess up inside the box. I guess there is one way to test, I'll take a bit of scrap spruce or cedar and put some danish oil on it, see if it "goes through."

I am a green horn at this, but I personally wouldn't put oil on my guitar. With all the money you could spend on good pieces of wood, making sure they are quartersawn, clear, have good tap tone, etc, I wouldn't want to put anything on it that would soak in and possibly affect the way it sounds. I was wanting to oil my first, but I was talked out of it, or at least to put a layer of schellac on first, then oil.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 11 2006 22:11:34

chinito

Posts: 104
Joined: Jun. 14 2004

RE: Oil finishes (in reply to lukemoon)

What JBASHORUN said about oils is true, more or less. Oil does penetrate more than lacquer but it does build a surface film as subsequent layers are applied and cure. Maybe an oil varnish, which should have resins added, would be better. Sealing with a diluted coat of shellac is also probably a good idea. Jonathan Kinkead's book describes applying an oil finish, but doesn't say exactly what kind he uses.

The nice thing about oil finishes is that they can be "renewed" when they get dull or damaged. A new coat of oil can be rubbed into the previous layers with either 400-600 grit wet-dry sandpaper or fine steel wool.

There's also this stuff:

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=Finishes&NameProdHeader=Oil+Finish

Apparently it's a linseed oil mixture that can be wiped on. However it seems that sanding must be done to a higher grit than with other finishes.

-Jake.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 13 2006 0:51:22