Just ordered a Stewmac Tele kit - Any advice appreciated

[Dru Edwards]

Is Tru Oil used on raw wood as the only finish? Does it require many coats?

[Bluside]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Is Tru Oil used on raw wood as the only finish? Does it require many coats?

From what I've seen online, yes. I have sanded the body real good with up to 400 sandpaper, cleaned it up and have so far applied 2 coats of the Tru Oil to the raw wood. The plan is to put about 15-20 coats on and then buff it out real good.

This is all new to me.

[J Patrick]

I have put together and finished many partscasters. I usually spray nitro but I did use Tru oil on a redwood body once but I did not find the finish satisfactory. Not hard or even enough even after many coats and plenty of drying time. Along the line someone recommended Osmo so I gave it a shot after I sanded the tru oil off of the redwood body. Far superior to tru oil. Just as easy to use but lt looked better…built up better and hardened quickly.

https://www.amazon.com/Osmo-Polyx-Oi...64972688&psc=1

[stephenT]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Is Tru Oil used on raw wood as the only finish? Does it require many coats?

I've used Tru Oil on one guitar top, I wanted it to look like wood, not a finish, all I did was three very thin coats. If you want a factory style glossy finish, I'd guess 10-20 coats. Dries quickly, 24 hrs.

[Bluside]

Originally Posted by stephenT

I've used Tru Oil on one guitar top, I wanted it to look like wood, not a finish, all I did was three very thin coats. If you want a factory style glossy finish, I'd guess 10-20 coats. Dries quickly, 24 hrs.

Very nice.

[Dru Edwards]

Thanks Stephen. Does Tru Oil darken the natural color of the wood?
BTW - That's a beauty you built.

Originally Posted by stephenT

I've used Tru Oil on one guitar top, I wanted it to look like wood, not a finish, all I did was three very thin coats. If you want a factory style glossy finish, I'd guess 10-20 coats. Dries quickly, 24 hrs.

[stephenT]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Thanks Stephen. Does Tru Oil darken the natural color of the wood?
BTW - That's a beauty you built.

It doesn’t darken the wood but enhances the variations in the grain. Thanks Dru.

[Bluside]

Just finished putting the last coat of Tru Oil on my new build. This is my first time. There is a wealth of info on the internet about how to do it. It seems there is also a wealth of different opinions on how to do it.

I ended up with about 16 -18 coats sanding occasionally in-between. Drying time varied between 4 hours and overnight for the different coats. I usually put 3 on a day. The last 2 coats that I put on were thinned 50/50 with oderless mineral sprits after giving it a good wet sanding with 2000 grit paper. This seemed to give it a descent shine.

The last coat is still drying and I will post pictures shortly.

What I did learn is that I should have done a better job finish sanding the body before I started applying the Tru Oil. That's OK, my old eyes aren't as good as they once were. Gives it a personal touch though.

[Bluside]

I had a hard time capturing the bit of gloss that it has. Gonna let it sit for 2 weeks now to fully cure and then will try to polish it up.

[stephenT]

Looks great! Excellent job. Here's a question, if you can't see a scratch for a foot away, is it really there?

Enjoy the rest of the process.

[Bluside]

Originally Posted by stephenT

Looks great! Excellent job. Here's a question, if you can't see a scratch for a foot away, is it really there?

Enjoy the rest of the process.

Thanks. I know what you mean. I'm really the only one who know where they are and have to really look hard in a certain light to see them.

[H165]

Looking very good so far.

ALL solid body electric guitars are basically machinery, fasteners and electronics. You have the generic machinery and fasteners in the kit.

What's left are the meaningful variables, and in your case those are the pickups, the semiconductors, and the circuit.

I generally put the whole thing together, see how it sounds, listen to other guitar sounds I like, and then match my pickups, semiconductors, and circuit to those I've heard and like. The great thing about this process is that you can change things based upon a hundred variables: Time, money, sound, looks, rumors, suggestions, experiments. Or.... you can just listen to Mark Knopfler's guitars and go directly to the top of guitar Everest

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Bluside

I had a hard time capturing the bit of gloss that it has. Gonna let it sit for 2 weeks now to fully cure and then will try to polish it up.

Great job, nice color!

[Bluside]

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Great job, nice color!

Thanks. I think the Tru Oil gave it a nice tint.

[Dru Edwards]

It turned out fantastic! Wow. Lots of effort to get there but it looks amazing.

You mentioned 2000 grit sandpaper but I think that was only for the last couple of coats. What did you use for the other coats?