Hi all,

I'm refinishing an old Carvin LB70 all Koa bass. I will eventually use Minwax tung oil on it, as I do with most of my projects.

The bass has years of 'mojo'; dirt, oils, cigarette smoke, etc. Funk !

The Koa seems oily and greasy, so I started to hand sand it, but was wondering if any of you use a solvent such a mineral spirits, to clean the wood prior to sanding?

Or should I just keep on sanding? I don't want to ruin this beautiful piece of wood.

Suggestions and Comments?

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/256/256242/folders/268812/2139475zCarvinLB70body2.jpg


Regards,

Mike

Naptha gas won't hurt it. Give it a good scrub and away you go.

If there are any surface coatings that will dissolve in solvent you will drive them deeper into the wood. Straight sanding is best.

What about a cabinet scraper to start with? It won't gunk up like the sandpaper will.

What about a cabinet scraper to start with? It won't gunk up like the sandpaper will.

+1

I use razor blades whenever I need a scaper, and they are one of the most handy tools that I have. They will scrape through most finishes very fast, too.

I do antique furniture restoration for a living and have removed finishes from hundreds of pieces. There's no reason to clean the wood before sanding, it would make no difference. Personally, I wouldn't sand it at all. It would be both faster and visually better to remove the finish with a chemical stripper like 5F5 or similar brands available from Home stores. Afterwards, clean the wood and nutralize the stripper with mineral spirits and 0000 steel wool. A light sanding is done last. This way you preserve and deepen the natural patination as well as emphasize any figure in the grain.

Thanks for the insights folks!!


Mike

Well, finally I finished the Carvin LB20 Koa. I went with old fashioned elbow grease and sanded with palm sander, finishing with sandpaper and 0000 steel wool. I used Minwax tung oil and put on about 10-12 coats, and not wiping off the final coats so as to get a gloss finish.

There is still an 1/8" groove above the pups where the previous owner placed their thumb. Some real mojo there.

Installed Dimarzio J pups. It sounds great !!

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Mike

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/256/256242/folders/272666/2172957KOA01.JPG

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/256/256242/folders/272666/2172959KOA02.JPG

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