Burnishing Raw Necks

[stratamania]

Indeed finishing needs something to adhere to. If the surface is too smooth the shellac might wipe on and off without doing very much.

Per the sealer this is what it is and where to find it.

All our necks are dipped in an oil based penetrating sealer which is compatible with virtually all secondary finishes. This provides enhanced stability; however, it is not adequate protection for playing. We strongly recommend you apply a hard finish to all Maple, Mahogany, Walnut, Korina, and Koa necks.

Reference https://warmoth.com/guitar-neck-finishes

 

[Nando Vallart]

So, they do what is described as "all our necks are dipped in an oil base penetrating sealer which is compatible with virtually all secondary finishes. This provides enhanced stability".

So, maybe is better think about a little bit of oil on them... Shelaq or whatever

I think that quote comes from the neck section of the Warmoth pages.... I think what they are saying - or go onto say -is that this sealant isn't enough to protect maple necks which may warp in transit due to temperature/humidity changes.

I've burnished a Wenge neck which was a tough job for my first one. Smooth as.  And that brings me to the second part....Finishing on a burnished neck?

Most shellac videos I've seen the sandpapering rarely goes beyond 400 grit paper. Burnishing goes way beyond that. A glass-like smooth surface on a guitar neck (like you get with burnishing), might not be a good surface to do shellacing on?

This is from the email Warmoth answered me

 

[Nando Vallart]

In my experience, once burnished they need no further finishing or attention. In fact, they're so slick you may have trouble getting anything to adhere to it. I've done countless necks this way, and have probably 20+ of my own done that way, and I've never had to do anything further to them. Of course, I'll also tell you SS frets don't wear out, but I know Mayfly has managed to chew through a set already :laughing7: But, worse thing that can happen is if it gets dirty, just take some finishing paper after it again. It's not like you take off enough material to change the dimensions.

How long you have these real raw necks?
Interesting because I don't really wanna have trouble

 

[Cagey]

Mine are all between 3 to 12 yrs old. I believe they're all "modern construction", which is a remarkably stable design, and of varying species. Mostly roasted Maple but there's Pau Ferro, Bloodwood, Canary, Bubinga, Ziricote, Rosewood, Ebony, etc.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Mine are all between 3 to 12 yrs old. I believe they're all "modern construction", which is a remarkably stable design, and of varying species. Mostly roasted Maple but there's Pau Ferro, Bloodwood, Canary, Bubinga, Ziricote, Rosewood, Ebony, etc.

If you have one for 12 years completely raw, I may say it's safe  :toothy12:

 

[Cagey]

Tonar's been doing it longer than I have (that's where I got the impetus to try it) and he even just uses regular raw Maple with no ill side effects. If any wood was going to misbehave, it would be that one. I'm quite confident you'll be happy with the results. The feel is just sublime.

 

[Sadie-f]

I would hazard a thought that you don't have to use a burnished neck very long for skin oils to fill in the pores in the neck.

For my part, I prefer single layer of tung, feels the same after as it did burnished & bare.

 

[electric__steve]

Anyone have any thoughts on using buffer wheels on a benchtop buffer/grinder to burnish a neck?  If so, what type of wheels and compounds would one use?  I know rather little about this.

Also, do you all do the whole neck, i.e. headstock, or just the playing area?

 

[Cagey]

Two issues come to mind. First, you'd be working against the grain, which is rarely a Good Thing. Second, rubbing/buffing compounds are too fine to start the process. You could perhaps use them to finish once you were up to needing 2000+ grits, but by that point you may as well just finish off with the polishing paper - you're almost done. Plus, dry abrasives keep any waste material out of any grain that may still be left.

 

[Tonar8352]

I do a finial polish on a polishing arbor after I have the neck finished with 2000 grit Klingspor wet/dry and several coats of boiled linseed oil which are hand rubbed in.  I use a Stew/Mac Polishing arbor and Menzerna Ultra Fine Dry Polishing Compound. I still have to put in the work of burnishing the wood with the 2000 grit paper. It's easy; put a movie in and sand away while you watch.

 

[Bob Hoover Ross]

do you all do the whole neck, i.e. headstock, or just the playing area?

Just the playing area.

 

[Dograt]

Just done this to a roasted maple neck. Fascinating process and results…

Before was actually after starting with 400 grit for a few minutes.

 

[Bob Hoover Ross]

It's been a few years since I've read through this entire thread, and I'd rather not have to do that all over again, and the forum's search engine doesn't seem savvy enough to target this question, so Imma ask here:

Has anyone tried this burnishing process on a fretless bass fingerboard?

If so, how'd it turn out, were you happy with teh results, any caveats or differences between the basic back-of-neck process?

Thanks.

 

[stratamania]

@Bob Hoover Ross some discussion on page 8. Google Advanced Search can be used to target the thread.

Burnishing Raw Necks

Naphtha is getting harder to get in some parts of the country (Environmental). Benzene is a chemical compound, and a name used for organics rather generically. It is Gasoline in Germany, and cyclic organics elsewhere. Coleman camp fuel is similar to Naphtha if you can't find naphtha at the...

unofficialwarmoth.com

 

[tiscoat]

Warmth raw roasted maple neck is so smooth already. Is it really possible to improve the feeling of it or is it mostly a psychological thing ya think?

 

[bagman67]

There's definitely a difference between the neck as delivered and a burnished neck. You might be surprised.

 

[tiscoat]

There's definitely a difference between the neck as delivered and a burnished neck. You might be surprised.

Could hit with 1000, 1500, 2000, 8000 on hand. Would make it smooth and shiny.

 

[tiscoat]

 

[ruscio]

Warmth raw roasted maple neck is so smooth already. Is it really possible to improve the feeling of it or is it mostly a psychological thing ya think?

Good Q, and I see from below that you tested it out, good for you! I didn't touch the roasted maple neck I got from Warmoth a few years back, it feels perfect. I did burnish a canary neck up to 2000 grit, but I never thought about bringing it back down for comparison. It, too, just feels perfect as is, so I won't mess with it.

 

[fuzzyoctaves]

After burnishing, should any kind of oil be applied to the neck? (Warmoth roasted maple).

If so, what kind of oil?