Simple finish for mahogany

[Bruno]

What is the easier finish to give a warmoth showcase mahogany neck?

(Forgive my ignorance, but warmoth showcase neck've already  a primer sealer or are sold raw and naked?)

Thanks

 

[dmraco]

naked.

to achieve a smooth finish you will have to fill the grain.  After that the choices are wide open...nitro, poly, tung oil...the list goes one.  What are you looking to achieve?

 

[Bruno]

So I misunderstood  :laughing11:


I want a *satin* finish that gives the feeling of living/naked/raw wood (mahogany!!!) under my fingers.

 

[spauldingrules]

So is the wood protected enough if it's not grain filled but finished with just tru oil?

 

[dmraco]

So is the wood protected enough if it's not grain filled but finished with just tru oil?

I would think so but true oil can get slick depending on how many coats you use.

I used a few coat of satin poly.  Good protection....still feels like wood.

 

[pabloman]

I did a body in tru oil and satin Deft. It's amazing.

 

[Bruno]

So is the wood protected enough if it's not grain filled but finished with just tru oil?

In doing so ... Warmoth guarantee?
:icon_scratch: :icon_scratch: :icon_scratch:

 

[Bruno]

But above all: what simple and durable alternatives to the Birchwood tru-oil?

(just a moment: don't tell me tung oil, please an alternative to oil  :icon_thumright

 

[Cagey]

I'll tell you, but only if get rid of that intensely aggravating marquee effect in your signature <grin>

 

[dmraco]

So is the wood protected enough if it's not grain filled but finished with just tru oil?

In doing so ... Warmoth guarantee?
:icon_scratch: :icon_scratch: :icon_scratch:

i would say yes.  Many tru oil only necks here.  Gain fill is not for protection...but for smoothness.

 

[Surtur]

I would do some light lacquer finish. I use nitro, not water-based, since one experienced luthier said " Never use anything with word "water" on guitars, especially necks!" I don't know how this rule works on guitar bodies, but that seems to be true to the necks.

Here is the simple schedule I used on my Warmoth  59' LP mahagony neck :
1. Fill in the grain to make the neck smooth.
2. Apply some stain, I used amber stain to enhance the mahagony's natural texture.
- You can change the order of steps 1 and 2, it depends on the result you want, if you want to outline the grain do the stain first and grain filling next.
3. Seal with 1-2 light coats of sealer, I used Behlen vynil sealer.
4. 2-3 final clear coats of nitro lacquer, satin or gloss - it's up to you.
5. Two weeks to cure. Optimal for me to be sure that the finish is hard enough to be sanded and buffed.
6. Final wet sending up to 800 grit + buffing.
Result - light and smooth finish, enough solid and reliable.

If you have binding mask it while staining and grain filling, unmask for the rest of the finishing.
Don't forget to send between the steps/coats starting from 220 up to 400 or higher grit.

I would not recommend to leave it unfinished since mahagony tends to become dirty and darker after some time.