Finishing a new build

[Huw Phillips]

I am building a bassand can’t decide what to use to finish the wood, I have looked at Belhens products as well as Color tone, I worked as a yacht painter and varnished for many years and like Epifanes a lot and know how to use it very well, I am looking for a Matt finish, the bass is a thru neck made of maple with ash wings the top will be kingwood, with a rosewood fretboard, Curtis Novak j/p pickups and Schiller hardwear. Am I missing a product that would work for me at the moment I think I will use Epifanes ready rubbed effect.
Cheers h

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Not familiar with that but if you know how to use it and you feel it will hold up as an instrument finish, and if it works as a boat finish it probably will, I'd say go for it it. Worst case, you have to sand it off and redo it down the road. Keep us informed.

You don't say if you're looking for wipe on or spray finish. That would help narrow down some of the suggestions. Wipe on / oil I like TruOil but that's partially because I'm familiar with it. Spray on, I've been using ProFinisher from Home Depot, check the water based finishes thread, but I'm about to experiment with a UV cured finish, so we'll see.

 

[Huw Phillips]

Not familiar with that but if you know how to use it and you feel it will hold up as an instrument finish, and if it works as a boat finish it probably will, I'd say go for it it. Worst case, you have to sand it off and redo it down the road. Keep us informed.

You don't say if you're looking for wipe on or spray finish. That would help narrow down some of the suggestions. Wipe on / oil I like TruOil but that's partially because I'm familiar with it. Spray on, I've been using ProFinisher from Home Depot, check the water based finishes thread, but I'm about to experiment with a UV cured finish, so we'll see.

Thanks for your reply, as you say I am comfortable with using Epi so makes sense to stay with what you know, they do a big range of stuff some with extra UV if that’s of interest, you basically dilute it 50/50 with thinners and reduce the thinners as the wood absorbs less and the build up starts, it flexes a fair bit given that it gets used on a mast for example that changes shape under sail and as it’s tensioned.
I will give the Home Depot stuff a look, my brother highly recommended Bona products it’s a floor finish water based but I have never used it.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

The ProFinisher is water based floor finish. Take a look here for more info, if you want. It was easy to get good results but I, at least, have had some issues with cloudiness over black, especially, and other dark colors.

Using water based products for instrument finishing, Target Coatings 9000 6000 and Varathane WB

I’m trying the Solarez “I can’t believe it’s not lacquer.” No odor, no voc uv cure finish. Check the highline guitars YouTube channel. He has tried it as a seal and fill coat. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet so no comment yet.

In the water based finish thread someone mentions EcoSteps finishes which he says don’t cloud over black so I might try that once the weather warms up here. Depends on how the Solarez goes. The Solarez is a bit spendy to.

Keep us updated. I’d definitely be interested to see the process with a new (to us) finish.

 

[Huw Phillips]

K will do, sorry I didn’t mention as you asked last time I prefer a brush finish as I have used a brush a lot, I believe that the water bass finishes are good however there is part of me that believes that unless it smells nasty and is oil based it’s not hardwaring, this is not logical but ..... cars are sprayed with water bass they key them by charging the car with one electrical field and the paint with another here is the Epi info Jamestown Distributors