How much tung oil is enough / too much?

[marianozz]

Im asking about necks... Ive done a few by now, and always liked the results, usually do 5, or 6 coats... but the thing is, i always prefer the feel of raw wood better!

The problem is, i dont want to leave it raw cause of sweat, dirt, in case something bad happens (water or whatever)...

what do you guys do?

[frankfalbo]

If you want it to remain cleanable for cosmetic reasons, you need 4-5 coats, or a polymerized finish. The tung oil finish has to kind of fill the grains for that to happen. Otherwise the dark "soylent green" will get into the fibers and grains. You'd be able to clean the surface, but you'd still have dark grains. I don't get my guitars dirty, though (or whatever reason) so I prefer 1-2 coats of tung oil. That's enough for protection against the elements in my opinion. When I want a thicker finish I don't use tung oil. I use a polymerized tung oil finish, that's roughly 80% tung oil with hardeners. That way I can build it and I know it'll get hard in the pores quickly. Subsequent coats build more of a "skin" over the wood instead of soaking into the fibers.

[Dee]

Use Fret Doctor!

[marianozz]

Originally Posted by frankfalbo

If you want it to remain cleanable for cosmetic reasons, you need 4-5 coats, or a polymerized finish. The tung oil finish has to kind of fill the grains for that to happen. Otherwise the dark "soylent green" will get into the fibers and grains. You'd be able to clean the surface, but you'd still have dark grains. I don't get my guitars dirty, though (or whatever reason) so I prefer 1-2 coats of tung oil. That's enough for protection against the elements in my opinion. When I want a thicker finish I don't use tung oil. I use a polymerized tung oil finish, that's roughly 80% tung oil with hardeners. That way I can build it and I know it'll get hard in the pores quickly. Subsequent coats build more of a "skin" over the wood instead of soaking into the fibers.

Cool, ill leave this one at two coats... see how it i like it... if the worse should happen, i can always sand a lil and add a couple more coats later on

Thanx Frank

[sniperfrommars1]

Originally Posted by Deeswift

Use Fret Doctor!

Fret doctor wont do anything to protect the color of an unfinished neck dee.

[Jaden]

Ive never oiled a guitar but ive made plenty of wooden furniture, most of the time I use danish oil (dont try that on yer guitars folks) and 2 coats is enough for full protection, after that your just filling in the grain of the wood and achiveing a glass like finish.

Frankfalbo is right IMO - 2 coats is all you need I would rub it down between coats too with a really light wire wool.

[Dee]

Originally Posted by sniperfrommars1

Fret doctor wont do anything to protect the color of an unfinished neck dee.

It works fine on mine!

[sniperfrommars1]

Originally Posted by Deeswift

It works fine on mine!

ITs not a finishing product dee thus it wont actually stop grime from working into the wood grain.

[King Nothing]

I always wondered why my buddy's neck turned dark green on the back behind the first few frets. I guess that's LTD for you!

[ChopTart]

When you can squeeze your neck and tung oil wrings out...its too much

[frankfalbo]

Ah yes, but when you squeeze your neck after a gig and sweat wrings out, it means you didn't use enough!

[Dee]

Originally Posted by sniperfrommars1

ITs not a finishing product dee thus it wont actually stop grime from working into the wood grain.

OK Sniper.

[sniperfrommars1]

Originally Posted by Deeswift

OK Sniper.

Awww you sound so sad. It will condition the fretboard rather nicely though

[Dee]