I am an amateur luthier like yourself and never ever thought of Tru-Oil as a simple guitar finish. I am a veteran gunsmith though and have used that product extensively in that trade. I can understand that if it has no, or minimal effect on acoustics, it would have many benefits, if not for visual, at least for durability as well as ease of repairs.
Tru-oil is a gunstock finish that gives fantastic protection. It is easily repaired if a scratch or ding is found. You don't have to refinish the whole area again as it will blend easily. I allow a day between coats and polish it out to the finish I want (glossy to flat and anywhere in between).
I used spray on nitrocellulose lacquer on my first and Tru oil on my next two. I liked Tru oil way beer all the way, the finish, ease of applicator, cost, nontoxic. ... That guitar is looking good.
I am refinishing a 1960's guitar, sanding the gloss to a matte, which I like better... There are some places on the head stock that are bare wood now...and the neck seems to have a thicker varnish. My plan is to fill the pits and digs with a matte varnish? Shellac? or Lacquer? Anyway I thought of doing an oil after all this is completed or I also have a car wax.... What do you think?
That's looking really good. I would like to see the wax finish if you decide to go with it :) I've mostly used Tung Oil as a finish in the past without wax. I recently started to use Danish Oil but I am thinking of experimenting with an abrasive paste wax finish for a semi gloss look. Thanks for sharing.
The Wood Yogi cool yeah there’s so many options I get overwhelmed sometimes. I’ll post the final thing here in a couple weeks w my thoughts on how it ended up
Oil on an acoustic?? Please don't do that. It seeps into the wood and dulls the vibrations of the woods. You should only use oils for furniture pieces! Use shellac for instruments as it coats the wood.
Your theory is correct. The first consideration for an acoustic guitar finish is that it should not contribute to tonewood damping (inhibition of soundwave transmission). But Tru-Oil, despite the name, is a surface varnish that dries to a hard resin. Shellac is a great-looking finish (which also soaks into the wood) but requires a significant learning curve to do well and isn't all that protective even after many coats. Tru-oil is a very forgiving finish and produces acceptable-to-outstanding results for almost everyone on their very first try with it.
I am an amateur luthier like yourself and never ever thought of Tru-Oil as a simple guitar finish. I am a veteran gunsmith though and have used that product extensively in that trade. I can understand that if it has no, or minimal effect on acoustics, it would have many benefits, if not for visual, at least for durability as well as ease of repairs.
Tru-oil is a gunstock finish that gives fantastic protection. It is easily repaired if a scratch or ding is found. You don't have to refinish the whole area again as it will blend easily. I allow a day between coats and polish it out to the finish I want (glossy to flat and anywhere in between).
First the amazing canoe and now this guitar, you deserve way way way more views and subscribers.
Jesper Andersson haha thanks man! I’m working on it!
Great stuff thanks. I just took off the varnish on my Cole Clarke and am finishing it with orange oil. Kind of a matt finish.
How about Linseed Oil?
Looking good my friend stay with it.
does the Tru-Oil dry and have feeling like lacquer? or is the guitar will always be oily kind ?
Looks good so far. Why the coffee filter?
Probably because they are lint free.
I used spray on nitrocellulose lacquer on my first and Tru oil on my next two. I liked Tru oil way beer all the way, the finish, ease of applicator, cost, nontoxic. ...
That guitar is looking good.
Better that is! :)
James Clem cool! I’m glad to hear that cause I’ve been second guessing myself through out! Thanks Jim!
I am refinishing a 1960's guitar, sanding the gloss to a matte, which I like better... There are some places on the head stock that are bare wood now...and the neck seems to have a thicker varnish. My plan is to fill the pits and digs with a matte varnish? Shellac? or Lacquer? Anyway I thought of doing an oil after all this is completed or I also have a car wax.... What do you think?
GOOD vid Adam!
Eleazar Perez thanks eleazar!
That's looking really good. I would like to see the wax finish if you decide to go with it :) I've mostly used Tung Oil as a finish in the past without wax. I recently started to use Danish Oil but I am thinking of experimenting with an abrasive paste wax finish for a semi gloss look. Thanks for sharing.
The Wood Yogi cool yeah there’s so many options I get overwhelmed sometimes. I’ll post the final thing here in a couple weeks w my thoughts on how it ended up
Can this be applied over a satin finish?
no, oil has to go to the wood
cool
Using tru oil next to your water heater is a no no!
Oil on an acoustic?? Please don't do that. It seeps into the wood and dulls the vibrations of the woods. You should only use oils for furniture pieces! Use shellac for instruments as it coats the wood.
Your theory is correct. The first consideration for an acoustic guitar finish is that it should not contribute to tonewood damping (inhibition of soundwave transmission). But Tru-Oil, despite the name, is a surface varnish that dries to a hard resin. Shellac is a great-looking finish (which also soaks into the wood) but requires a significant learning curve to do well and isn't all that protective even after many coats. Tru-oil is a very forgiving finish and produces acceptable-to-outstanding results for almost everyone on their very first try with it.
As a note, never do burned finish + oil... I have an electric that weighs about 400 lbs now.
@Derek your link is for a solid top not an acoustic..
I have used tru oil on the neck and everyone loves the way there hand slides down and up guitar, not like those Laquer finishes.