Making a pine tele body some version of white

[musicispeace]

Starting to research for a project I am thinking about. it would be a pine tele body but, short of spraying it, what might the overall options be for some sort of DIY white finish and I recall from my long ago woodworking days that pine can soak up a lot. I'm happy to do the leg work but if anyone has any starting advice that would help me get on solid ground as there is a lot of stuff written about furniture finishing rather than guitar bodies. I foresee this guitar as being OK to be a bit rough looking so I am willing to undertake finishing it if it doesn't need to be showroom perfect. Thanks.

 

[swarfrat]

You can seal with a 50/50 wood glue / water mix. Dry, sand. Paint.

 

[dmraco]

here are two pine builds i did.  The guitar I used just a torch to burn it, then satin poly to seal it.  The bass I used a torch as well, and added a bit of special walnut stain for added color.  The bass was coated with satin nitro.  I used some z poxy to fill any imperfections on both.

You can do a smooth finish on pine but takes a lot of sanding and fillers.

http://unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=23958.msg349404#msg349404

http://unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=23951.msg349422#msg349422

 

[gjacob]

You could use a wood conditioner which will help with even absorption.  After that, most stain makers will make some sort of oil-based pickled oak finish that will give you a bleached look while still showing grain (think a more transparent Mary Kay White).

Otherwise, if you use multiple coats of a water-based white stain without a filler, it will soak into the wood and give you a more white color with grain telegraphed through.  Using a filler will give you a flatter finish.  Both will be more opaque than oil.

Paint is another option, but make sure you seal and sand the wood flat first.  They make door paint and rollers that are made for a super smooth paint job.  Proper prep is the key.

 

[musicispeace]

Many thanks and it certainly makes sense. Great pics by the way on those two pine builds.