Questions regarding finishing a mahogany/ebony neck

[Badside]

Received my mahogany/ebony showcase neck yesterday. Got a few questions before I finish:

- Ebony can stay raw right?
- Therefore do I only mask the top of the neck, or mask the sides of the fretboard as well?
- Was there ever a final word on Tru-Oil vs warranty. Technically it's not oil, and if I spray it (all I could find locally) it's not a wipe-on finish either, so I'm safe? No?
- In any case, Tru-Oil or clear lacquer, I'm good with hitting the neck with it without grain-filling first if I like the feeling?

Thanks!

 

[greywolf]

Ebony doesn't require a finish .. it is extremely dense.
Depending on the openess of the grain on your neck ,you may want to shoot a filler coat of lacquer ( Stew Mac sells a clear spray for this) 

 

[Badside]

Ebony doesn't require a finish .. it is extremely dense.
Depending on the openess of the grain on your neck ,you may want to shoot a filler coat of lacquer ( Stew Mac sells a clear spray for this)

I can't order finishing products for StewMac (live in Canada)
I have a specialty wood shop near my work place, but I'm having a hard time finding the "proper" stuff for guitars there, at least I was never able to find a clearly labelled sanding sealer, but surely they have the stuff to finish mahogany seeing as they sell mahogany!

Used to have a 2001 Les Paul Raw Power, which had a really thin satin clear nitro finish and no pore filling. You could feel the grain and I loved it. But I can't for the life of me remember if the neck was grain filled or not...

 

[Cagey]

...surely they have the stuff to finish mahogany seeing as they sell mahogany!

Don't be too sure. Lowe's sells literally tons of wood and has several long/tall aisles of finishing supplies, but you definitely won't find any grain filler there, and if they have any sanding sealer, it's probably not going to be the right stuff. What they do have, however, is good pricing on the volatiles such as denatured alcohol, naptha, acetone, mineral spirits, etc.

For guitar finish work, you'll more often find what you want at furniture refinisher supply houses and automotive finishing suppliers. The furniture guys may not sell you what you need, but they'll know where to get it. They also often know a lot more about finishing than your average bear.

 

[Badside]

Thankfully this is not Lowe's we're talking about, but a specialty wood shop, they only sell wood, wood finishing products and wood working tools, nothing else.
Hopefully I don't drive there for no reason

 

[bagman67]

Phone ahead so you can save the trip if they don't have what you need.  Even so, though, like Cagey said - the average employee age in such places is in the fifties, and those dudes know a LOT.  It's unlikely to be a truly wasted trip, even if you don't have the products you require - you can pick up some Knowledge for free.


Peace


Bagman

 

[pabloman]

I have a mahogany body that I finished in TruOil. Just enough to get the color sexy. Probably about 6 coats. Then as an added means of protection I shot it with satin Deft. It came out amazing. I didn't use any filler. I like it so much I'm am going to replace the maple neck with a mahogany one and finish it the same way. I say go for it. :headbang1:

 

[Badside]

In the back is my Charvel inspired build, 1-piece mahogany, dozen tru-oil coats and nothing else
I'm with you buddy!
The first few coats just made it look darker and uninspiring, then as they build up you start getting awesome depth and reflections!

(In front is the body that will be receiving this neck, and probably the same finish too)

 

[pabloman]

Yeah I'm looking forward to seeing this one done. :guitaristgif: