Official Woodworking Thread

[Good Ol' Boy]

Here's a dining table I'm in the process of finishing. Its at the shop (work).

Its made from white oak that was rough milled on my dads farm back in the '50's, so the whole thing is somewhat sentimental.

I'll be applying finish over the next 3 weekends or so.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

So I got the finish on the table. Still have one more coat to put on the top next weekend.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

In its new home, my parents house. Moms still shopping for chairs.

 

[doubleh]

Looks good.

 

[wiscoaster]

I'm making a bass guitar, and this will be my first project using a water-based dye stain coloring process, and finished with clear gloss laquer. The body is from a board of nicely-figured mahogany I found at my local Home Depot. I'm going to stick my neck out here and post a photo, sort of as a "put-up-or-shut-up" motivation to actually finish the project. But it's this winter's wood-working project, so don't expect photos of the finished result any time soon.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I'm not a guitar guy (drummer) so I don't know all the lingo for guitar anatomy.

But if the "body" is whats pictured that sure doesn't look like Mahogany. Looks more like Poplar or possibly Maple (if the lighting is weird) to me.

Either way what you showed looks great!

 

[wiscoaster]

No, sorry, you're 100% right. I meant maple. Crossed wires in an old duffer's brain.

Anyhoo, it's partially routed on the inside to reduce weight and maybe give it some additional resonance. Just guessing and experimenting; I don't really know what I'm doing, ha ha.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

No, sorry, you're 100% right. I meant maple. Crossed wires in an old duffer's brain.

Anyhoo, it's partially routed on the inside to reduce weight and maybe give it some additional resonance. Just guessing and experimenting; I don't really know what I'm doing, ha ha.

Nevertheless its does look nice.

What will the neck be made of, the same or something different?

 

[wiscoaster]

I bought a neck on Amazon - it's maple with rosewood (so they claim) fingerboard; fingerboard and frets already installed; I had to shape and finish the headstock, and still have to install the nut and the tuner hardware.

Amazon.com: Yinfente Bass Guitar neck 22fret 30inch Scale Rosewood Fretboard Block Inlay Maple Guitar Neck Paddle Head : Musical Instruments

Buy Yinfente Bass Guitar neck 22fret 30inch Scale Rosewood Fretboard Block Inlay Maple Guitar Neck Paddle Head: Musical Instruments - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

The single review is by me.

 

[Olon]

I'm making a bass guitar, and this will be my first project using a water-based dye stain coloring process, and finished with clear gloss laquer. The body is from a board of nicely-figured mahogany I found at my local Home Depot. I'm going to stick my neck out here and post a photo, sort of as a "put-up-or-shut-up" motivation to actually finish the project. But it's this winter's wood-working project, so don't expect photos of the finished result any time soon.

View attachment 1875

I've always thought it would be cool to do this but the sticking point is I have no idea how it's gonna sound until it's done and large chunks of hardwood ain't cheap!

Excited to see how yours turns out.

 

[wiscoaster]

I've always thought it would be cool to do this but the sticking point is I have no idea how it's gonna sound until it's done and large chunks of hardwood ain't cheap!

True and true!! However, I'm using locally available 1x12 board lumber, and also the wood really has little to do with how it sounds. There was a guy who made a whole series of guitars with bodies of various kinds of wood, and swapping all the other parts the same, and documenting the audio output results with an audio analyzer. His conclusions? Not much difference, and if there was any "best" sounding guitar body it was the one made from OSB.

 

[wiscoaster]

First application of yellow dye (to the back, natch, in case I screw it).

This is post-grain-raise. Dry. One more yellow app. Dry. Then light sanding. Then a last app of a mix of four parts yellow and one part red to mellow the yellow and (hopefully) highlight the grain that was sanded. That's the plan, anyway. Worked fairly well on a test board. I like working with this stuff. Still deciding whether to just go straight to spray laquer or do something else in between after the last dye app.

Recommendations always welcome.

 

[Howland937]

Can't go wrong with the retro orange sunburst

 

[Olon]

True and true!! However, I'm using locally available 1x12 board lumber, and also the wood really has little to do with how it sounds. There was a guy who made a whole series of guitars with bodies of various kinds of wood, and swapping all the other parts the same, and documenting the audio output results with an audio analyzer. His conclusions? Not much difference, and if there was any "best" sounding guitar body it was the one made from OSB.

Wow I'm surprised by that especially with how much marketing hype goes into the wood used!

Well maybe I'm gonna have to give it a go myself then

 

[wiscoaster]

Overlay with yellow-red dye mix to mellow the yellow and give some hints of red highlights to grain:

(compare to above)

Problem: on my test boards, the clear gloss laquer spray I had wanted to use (Rustoleum) as the finish layer isn't sitting happy on top of this surface (assuming drying and light sanding first, of course). It's not self-leveling like it normally does, leaving a kind of a stubbled surface. So there's something going on there I don't understand. I guess I'm either going to have to go with another top finish method, or apply some intermediate clear finish both the dye-stained surface and the laquer top coat are both going to be happy with. Sanding sealer? Any suggestions are welcome!!

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

With 320 grit you can sand out most imperfections between coats. I personally wipe my projects down with 2000 grit after final coat.

 

[wiscoaster]

I found that a light coat of BLO well-dried and lightly sanded took care of the problem. I think the dye stain needed something insoluble on top of it to prevent the laquer from interacting with it. I also gave up on the Rustoleum laquer that's given me such good results in the past. I'm using Dupli-Color automotive laquer for both the burst color and the clear finish. I think because they're both the same brand they're more compatible. Here's my test board with finish coat waiting to finish curing before buffing. Though I'm probably going to use a little darker red with a little less transparency:

 

[wiscoaster]

Waiting to cure before finish coat ... so far more or less what I intended ...

The screw hole will be covered by the bridge and the two defects around the pickup cavity will be covered by the pick guard.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

That looks pretty stellar!

You know we're gonna need a sound check video once this thing is done

 

[wiscoaster]

Final finish coat on body & neck are curing. I ended up using the Rustoleum clear gloss spray laquer because it seemed to be happy enough over the top of the Dupli-Color product, and it sprays more evenly, levels better, and buffs out better. The neck was finished with tinted Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil.

Hanging like beeves in the locker, hah!!

Cutting the pickguard is next.