Members roblightyeah Posted December 29, 2010 Members Share Posted December 29, 2010 I've got my bass down to the bare wood, and just really want some kind of clear finish to protect it from getting grubby - doesn't need to be all shiney, in fact just a smooth, matt finish would be better... any advice on which kind of lacquer or varnish or what ever? should it be a nitro-lacquer thats not gloss (does this exist)? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WRGKMC Posted December 29, 2010 Members Share Posted December 29, 2010 I suggest Lacquer or Tung Oil. Tung oil is the easiest. Just wipe on wipe off thing you get enough coats on to suit you. It comes in high gloss or semi gloss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted December 29, 2010 Members Share Posted December 29, 2010 Tru oil is another easy to apply option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belva Posted December 29, 2010 Members Share Posted December 29, 2010 I agree with both here. An oil finish will do what you need and is super easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted December 29, 2010 Members Share Posted December 29, 2010 I agree with both here. An oil finish will do what you need and is super easy. Yeah I wouldn't get into spraying lacquer unless I was dead set on a a lacquer finish. Way too much trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members normh Posted December 29, 2010 Members Share Posted December 29, 2010 KTM. It is like nitro but water based and can be brushed on rather than sprayed. After it dries - 1-2 hours, brush with 0000 steel wool to get rid of the shine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WRGKMC Posted December 29, 2010 Members Share Posted December 29, 2010 KTM. It is like nitro but water based and can be brushed on rather than sprayed. After it dries - 1-2 hours, brush with 0000 steel wool to get rid of the shine. The only thing with water based over alcohol based is you need to be careful to follow directions with water based lacquer. If you dont apply coats within a specific time you can have issues with it growing a skin like oil and polys create. Additional applications dont melt into the previous applications if you wait too long, and you can get a opeq tint unlike alcohol which thinners melt into the previous finish. This isnt a huge problem if you follow directions but its an issue if you fix dings and scratches later because the water based just wont melt into the older finish like alcohol based lacquer will. This is one main reason why I dont recomend water based finishes for instruments. they get dinged and scratched and the easier it is to make a seamless repair the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members roblightyeah Posted December 30, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 30, 2010 fantastic! thanks for all your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members roblightyeah Posted January 25, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 25, 2011 I've been using tung oil, but it seems to pool in the direction of gravity, giving a dark, cherry kind of look - is there any way around this? I was hoping to just give it a clear, natural yellow of the wood look. Should I get the tung oil off (how?) and try with something else as I can now spray it easily (it's hanging up) maybe I've just done something wrong with the oil... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted January 25, 2011 Members Share Posted January 25, 2011 I've been using tung oil, but it seems to pool in the direction of gravity, giving a dark, cherry kind of look - is there any way around this? I was hoping to just give it a clear, natural yellow of the wood look. Should I get the tung oil off (how?) and try with something else as I can now spray it easily (it's hanging up)maybe I've just done something wrong with the oil... Could you elaborate? Pool in the direction of gravity? Where is it pooling? You are perhaps just putting it on too thick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members roblightyeah Posted January 25, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 25, 2011 I had the body lying flat, and I painted on the first two layers with 50% white spirit - turning the body over to do the underside when the top was dry... the sides started to take on a darker tint than the top and bottom (I'm guessing it was just running down the sides)... then I managed to hang it up from the screw holes for the neck and painted on the 100% coats of oil with about 48 hours in between - and I noticed the other day that the surface of the guitar that's hanging upside down has come very dark, as if it has many more layers of oil than the rest of the guitar. I didn't think I was painting it on thick... just enough that I could see a difference from the previous coat... does this make sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belva Posted January 25, 2011 Members Share Posted January 25, 2011 Maybe it's soaking into the end grain more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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