Roasted Maple/Roasted Swamp Ash Mooncaster

[Dero08]

Applied the amber dye, then sanded again … i think this is as good as it get:

then I applied the first coat of oil:

and it looks like crap again … in all my years of woodworking, which is only 2, I’ve never seen wood get worse with finish. I might sand it off again and just go with a water- based poly.

 

[Rick]

Mmmh ... it's a little plain but I've seen worse. What don't you like about it?

 

[Dero08]

Mmmh ... it's a little plain but I've seen worse. What don't you like about it?

The grain disappears once the oil is added … it just looks muddy and uneven. I love the back and sides … depending on how it looks when top-coated, I may just sell the body and go roasted swamp ash on body and cap.

 

[Spud]

In any case, ash generally has more pronounced grain then regular maple.

 

[triple jim]

Damn... and it looked so good at post #13.

 

[stratamania]

It looks fine to me, but probably it has turned out that reality did not meet expectations.

 

[Spud]

Just keep applying clear and shine it up and play it. Another idea would be go for a skullet top!

 

[Strat Avenger]

I thought it looked gorgeous in post #13. Looked gorgeous in post #17 as well, albeit darker.

 

[Dero08]

Here’s where it’s at … I put a coat of Seal-a-Cell on it first (that’s post 21), and have applied tru-oil every day since. will probably but 2-3 coats of tru-oil on tomorrow, then either leave it as is, or clear coat it.

https://flic.kr/p/2ohonfW

https://flic.kr/p/2ohonfq

 

[Spud]

Here’s where it’s at … I put a coat of Seal-a-Cell on it first (that’s post 21), and have applied tru-oil every day since. will probably but 2-3 coats of tru-oil on tomorrow, then either leave it as is, or clear coat it.

https://flic.kr/p/2ohonfW

https://flic.kr/p/2ohonfq

That looks awesome!

 

[Dero08]

Thank you! I may be able to do a little mock-up tomorrow … cannibalizing an earlier build for parts, but I don’t want to strip it until I put back together another one (I just need to solder the bridge ground to a pot, install the pick guard, and string it up). I will be interested in opinions on pickups, since I have two as options.

 

[stratamania]

I would suggest not assembling it or buffing it for several weeks or putting any other clear on it to allow the Tru-oil time to fully dry. Now is not the time to rush the process.

 

[Dero08]

I would suggest not assembling it or buffing it for several weeks or putting any other clear on it to allow the Tru-oil time to fully dry. Now is not the time to rush the process.

good tip! I wouldn’t drill anything, but wouldn’t want to accidentally scratch it either.

 

[Dero08]

Good morning everyone! I got really busy with work and kids sports, and haven’t had a chance to finish this. will try to finish soon.
- Pickups: Dark Moon Aurora (Alnico 2)
- Pots: CTS 500K
- Capacitors: Luxe .22uF Black Beauty in Bridge; Luxe .15uF Black Beauty ("Woman Tone") in neck
- Tone Pros tail piece and tunomatic bridge
- Tuners: graphtech ratio tuners in gold

 

[Dero08]

Here’s a mock-up of the body:

https://flic.kr/p/2oRsMYG

 

[Hodgo]

I find a pre-stain conditioner is a great way to make a piece take stain more evenly BUT sometimes that means less grain variation in the final product. Works lovely on pine to make it stain uniformly.

 

[Dero08]

Thanks for the tip! Will that work for hand-rubbed oil applications? This top looked $hitty to me from the first oil application. I didn't start putting dye on it until I sanded it back to re-do.