Need advice on how to do a white wash finish

[hillerheilman]

Hi everyone! So I'm having a custom guitar body made by a wonderful guy on the Offsetguitars forum, and I need some advice on finishing it. (Link to the build thread with pictures: http://offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=101191&p=1415367#p1415367 ) this guy does phenomenal work, check it out. Anyway, the pickguard is going to be a lot like tortoise shell, but better (I'm sure he'll post a picture once he cuts it) and the neck is going to be maccasar ebony and roasted maple. So I was thinking that a whitewash finish might be cool, but then I stumbled upon this thread: http://www.tdpri.com/threads/total-...t-build-the-murdercaster.346086/#post-4392395 and I thought it might be cool to do designs with an exacto knife underneath the finish. Here was what I was planning on doing:

1) sand
2)carve designs
3)dark grain filler
4) white pickling stain
5) tru oil

So my questions are as follows:
1)  would the grain filler work to fill the scratches in the design and make it show through the white stain, as well as accentuate the grain? I'm only wanting it to show through slightly, not super bold black.
2) would white pickling stain be the best way to achieve a semi transparent white finish? It's the best method I've seen so far, but perhaps one of you knows something I don't.
3) would tru oil yellow the aforementioned semi transparent white finish? I want a satin finish, but I need something I can apply by hand as I have no spray equipment. should I go with a rattle can satin polyurethane or something instead?
Any help is appreciated
Thanks in advance
~Hiller

 

[AirCap]

That looks like a LOT of work for a WTF? finish....

 

[Logrinn]

I think it opens up some really cool possibilities ...

 

[Logrinn]

The expert here, or at least one of them, is Tonar8353. Here's a thread of how he's doing a Mary Kaye finish for another board member.
What he doesn't know about guitar finishes is probably not worth knowing.

 

[hillerheilman]

That looks like a LOT of work for a WTF? finish....

how so? The only real intricate part would be the scoring with the exacto knife. I'm just not sure if the grain filler would work on the scoring. I'll try it on a blank first

 

[AirCap]

Yes, suggest you experiment.... a lot. I don't see the appeal, but it's not my guitar. TruOil doesn't turn yellow, but it does have a light amber tint. Good luck with it.

 

[hillerheilman]

Yes, suggest you experiment.... a lot. I don't see the appeal, but it's not my guitar. TruOil doesn't turn yellow, but it does have a light amber tint. Good luck with it.

thanks. I'll post pictures once it's all done

 

[amigarobbo]

I don't know if this is what your after, but maybe the Wudtone Olympic white finish?

http://www.wudtone.com/product/finishing-kit-olympic-girl/

 

[hillerheilman]

I don't know if this is what your after, but maybe the Wudtone Olympic white finish?

http://www.wudtone.com/product/finishing-kit-olympic-girl/

the transparency is right. Not quite white enough though

 

[stratamania]

It might be worth checking out the Wudtone kit a little further if it looks close to what you want as you can vary the colour dependent on the amount of the pigment coat you use.