Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi everyone!

I stripped a old bass I have, who had a really thick lacquer finish with several coats of metallic grey paint under. I was wishing that maybe It could be have nice wood under. I was not hoping for something spectacular but, at least something enough that I could put a transparant dye, maybe a burst. But the results are: some ugly basswood, with several knots and defects, 6 or 7 pieces glued together, all different widths.

So, I'll have to put another opaque finish, and i'm searching for really opaque dye (or should I call it paint?). This project was to try some finishing techniques and run some tests. So, i'm searching for opaque stain that can be applied under a hand finish (oil or maybe some brushed varnish).

Thanks!
Francis

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

hi francis.
you could try some analine powder, mixed with water or alcohol, depending on whether it's water or alc based powder,
and add it to your finish. you can experiment with concentrations, and stop with the color coats when it's deep enough.
i've done that with some success, but you need to spray, and i don't know about the varnish.
the water based powder used with water based finish, alc powder with nitro.
fun stuff there!

Thanks Alan!

I already thought about the analine powder, but as a stain, directly on wood. I have no equipment to spray and no place to have a spray booth either. So, I really want to do a hand finish. I already finished few instruments with tung oil, tung / wax, but i'm not sure i could mix pigment powder in oil.

I never used pigment powder, could it be opaque enough to hide the grain, if used directly on wood?

And if i used oil over it, should I used alcool or water mix?

Thanks!
Francis

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

Francis-
I think you really need to think about using paint for this job.
If you can work outdoors, you can spray from aerosol cans.
Most good autobody supply stores will mix any colour you want and put it in an aerosol can for you.
Talk to a knowledgeable person at the autobody place to get a primer/colour/clearcoat system that will all work together.

Or, get a chunk of wood and make a new body!

Cheers
John

Thanks John!

These are a lot of pre-mixed aerosol paint, couldn't make the job? Is there any type of paint I should use?

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

Francis-
You would probably be happier with the result if you made a new body. It might even be cheaper, once you add up the cost of paint, clear coat, etc.... something like cherry?

Anyway, if you are doing a painted finish, you really want to be able to 'rub out' the paint to get a high-gloss result. That's why I recommended the auto shop approach. (I'm a wood-look' guy myself....)

For more info, check out:
http://www.reranch.com/

Cheers
John

Thanks again John.

I don't really care about this instrument, It's just a chance to make some test with painted or paque finishes, cause I'm also a wood-look lover, but it's always good to try other stuff, to gain experience.

Anyways, thanks for the help!
Francis

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

Use oil-based enamel. Lots of colors to choose from. Can be top coated with clear.

Why not use a waterbased laquer. It can be applied with a brush if you add retarder to it, and you can use dyes like trans tint to make a transparent finish, or pigments like Mixol for an opaque finish. Put on a few color coats, then clear over the top. Let cure, level sand and buff.

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Rob