Which oil, Tung? Gun stock?

Dee · #1 10-02-2007, 01:46 PM

Another question about my RG7421. The neck on this one is a little dented on the back. Nothing major at all, I guess it can be sanded back a little, or maybe steel wool can smarten it up, but then it's gonna need oiling. Which oil will give me the best results?

Davey · #2 10-02-2007, 01:50 PM

Presuming it's a maple neck I'd go with tung just because I've got experience with it and I know it'll do a reasonably good job of protecting it.

Dee · #3 10-02-2007, 01:54 PM

It is maple, just a Wizard 7 with the skunk stripe (RG7-621 stamp). Thanks mate.

marianozz · #4 10-02-2007, 02:38 PM

If its already "natural feeling" great, but, if its cleared and dented be sure to remove ALL THE CLEAR before oiling...

Oil over "not-completely-sanded-away" clear feels and looks horrible...

good luck!

Dee · #5 10-02-2007, 04:24 PM

I guess it was originally quite a nice feeling neck, typical of MIJ RG's with the matt clearcoat. If this type of finish is wiped down regularly I can keep it nice, my own RG's have always felt good. I think some sweaty dude has been playing this 7421 and been too lazy to clean it, so it's now glossy. I hate that!

FloridaNative · #6 10-02-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

I guess it was originally quite a nice feeling neck, typical of MIJ RG's with the matt clearcoat. If this type of finish is wiped down regularly I can keep it nice, my own RG's have always felt good. I think some sweaty dude has been playing this 7421 and been too lazy to clean it, so it's now glossy. I hate that!

EEEEEWWWW!! Just hope it's not butt sweat!!

hehe

Jaden · #7 10-02-2007, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibanez249

Presuming it's a maple neck I'd go with tung just because I've got experience with it and I know it'll do a reasonably good job of protecting it.

not many benny !

you cant beat the feel of tung oil, marianozz put me onto it and i was sold straight away...

I applied one coat every 24+ hours and denibbed with 0000 wire wool before applying another coat...
after 6 coats the neck felt like playing silk...
I recommend it anyway...

J.

Gusfmm · #8 10-03-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

I guess it was originally quite a nice feeling neck, typical of MIJ RG's with the matt clearcoat. If this type of finish is wiped down regularly I can keep it nice, my own RG's have always felt good. I think some sweaty dude has been playing this 7421 and been too lazy to clean it, so it's now glossy. I hate that!

Yeah, that and use turn them kind of glossy. But I'd think he may have probably cleaned it with some sort of oil already, further contributing to that effect.

I hate steel wood. Messy, itchy, uneven, even staining where you have small cracks or veins in the wood. Forget about it. Get yourself some good sanding paper, fine grade, something like 600 or 800 grit. You may want to give it a final touch with 1,200 or even 1,500. Depending on your preferences. A set of Micromesh always comes in handy.

Remove all the crap w/ 120 grit paper, then move on to the 220. Follow the wood grain. No circles. Forget what you saw on the KarateKid trilogy. Apply some tung-oil generously but not in excess. Let it dry overnight. Clean w/ rag. Then work a bit w/ 320 grit paper. Apply another light coat of the oil. Let penetrate for a few hours. Remove excess w/ rag. Should feel good at this point but kind of glossy/a bit sticky. Some like it that way. I'd move on to the finer grit paper at that point and when you reach the feel that you prefer, just leave it like that, natural. Wood will be protected internally by the oil, and you'll have a silky finish on the outside. It's the closest I've gotten to the J-C neck finish. Give it a try.

Gus.

Dee · #9 10-03-2007, 02:23 PM

Great advice, much appreciated Sir.

marianozz · #10 10-04-2007, 12:21 PM

Yeah Gus, last couple necks i did i did exactly as you described... steel wool had always worked great for me until the day it stained a really nice 550 neck... i guess i used another brand or whatever, but ive been using paper only ever since...

Jaden · #11 10-04-2007, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marianozz

Yeah Gus, last couple necks i did i did exactly as you described... steel wool had always worked great for me until the day it stained a really nice 550 neck... i guess i used another brand or whatever, but ive been using paper only ever since...

really !!

ive not had that happen but I dont want it to happen once either...
time to move to paper methinks..

marianozz · #12 10-04-2007, 03:13 PM

Yeah man, neck still was awesome, but, upon close inspection (and once you knew it was there) there was grain in the wood that was a lil too dark

stratoskier · #13 10-05-2007, 12:31 PM

FWIW, I've used tung oil quite a bit on both bodies and necks. After following a thread on The Gear Page talking about the wonders of Tru-Oil, I thought I'd give it a try on a neck I'm working on. It's pretty great stuff -- easy to work with, and it gives a very smooth, attractive finish. I'm not too sure I'd ever go back to tung oil, at least not for the rear of a neck.
Bert

Dee · #14 10-05-2007, 02:59 PM

I've also heard good things about Tru-Oil. I might have to give that stuff a try.

Dee · #15 10-10-2007, 01:55 PM

OK, change of plan. I was talking to Ed Boyle (the guy who makes Fret Doctor) and he said that FD can be used to finish the neck. I think I will try this out because I already use FD on my fretboard and it's great stuff. I can imagine a neck finished with it will be awesome, probably like an unfinished feel, and that's perfect for me. As a temporary solution I made the existing clearcoat matte again using 0000 grade steel wool, just lightly enough to remove the hideous shine.