Should I Tru-oil the cavities fi I'm using Tru-oil for the body?

[newpatch]

Hi,

Since I'm using tru-oil for the body, can I use it in the pickup cavities and control cavities? In other words...tru-oil everything...

I'm going to use copper shielding for everything also...I figure if I tru-oil everthing, my guitar should be protected for the elements...

dinkyguitar

 

[bagman67]

Hi,

Since I'm using tru-oil for the body, can I use it in the pickup cavities and control cavities? In other words...tru-oil everything...

I'm going to use copper shielding for everything also...I figure if I tru-oil everthing, my guitar should be protected for the elements...

dinkyguitar

You most surely CAN use it in the cavities.  You won't have an easy time AVOIDING getting any of it in the cavities, in fact, unless you mask it.  Whether you should is really a non-issue.  The cavities are not generally subject to invasion by the destructive forces that a neck is exposed to, so whether to do it or not is really a matter of where you want to do the work - masking, or wiping the finish on and off.  And if you're shielding (Cagey will likely weigh in soon on whether that's strictly necessary), it really doesn't matter at all whether you finish the cavities.

 

[Cagey]

Cavities are typically somewhat rough-cut, or at least not finish-sanded, so I'm not sure what you'd accomplish by putting oil in them. But, it can't hurt anything, so if it makes you happy, then go for it.

As for the copper shielding, without going into a long diatribe about it, let me just say it's demonstrably pointless, unless you like the appearance of copper-lined cavities. That's its only benefit - cosmetics. Since the interior is rarely on display except at build time when you're posting pictures, it's of questionable value. But, here again, it can't hurt anything. So if it makes you happy, then go for it.

 

[ezas]

I was just coming in to ask the same question about shellac sealer in the cavities. I had already done it on one of my builds, a more 'basic' build, and wanted to check before doing it on the really nice finished body i'm also working on.

And yes it makes me feel better. Also I'm knocking off the worst of the roughness before sealing. I'm using de-waxed shellac cut to about 1.5lbs (guestimate).

 

[mayfly]

do it or not - will make no difference.

 

[newpatch]

Thanks....

My reasoning for doing the cavities is not for cosmetics...It's to protect the entire guitar for moisture etc. Just like protecting the body, if you add up all the cavities, it's a pretty big space. So I was just curious about adding a protective coating everywhere...

Cagey,

I thought adding shielding would reduce noise and etc., from the electronics....That the only reason I wanted to do it....Even stock guitar come with some kind of shielding...But if it's not necessary it will save me the time...

dinkyguitar

 

[Cagey]

"Some kind of shielding" is not enough. It has to be complete, or it's a waste. OEMs may slap a 3 or 4 inch piece of something conductive on part of the pickguard, but that's just an inexpensive sop to those who believe it does something. If it wasn't there, you wouldn't notice any difference in your noise levels.

 

[stubhead]

I live in a swamp, and I shellac everything I can get to. We get months and months of + 90% humidity at night, and I'm sitting there with some shellac... why not.