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Anybody know how to finish a neck?

Discussion in 'Luthier's Corner' started by jaymeister99, Nov 17, 2005.

  1. Nov 17, 2005 #1
    jaymeister99

    jaymeister99

    Aug 2, 2005
    Im considering buying a new neck for my backup bass (has a warped neck). But dont want it completely finished, it costs another $75-80 to finish it off.

    Anybody know how to do a decent laminating job on a neck?

    Also can wood hardener be used on a neck?
     
  2. Nov 21, 2005 #2
    petie-b

    petie-b Guest

    Aug 24, 2005
    orlando, florida
    I wouldnt know how to laminate the neck but i got good results for my project just by sanding the neck down using fine grade paper and then using a wood stain and wax finish.

    The neck ended up looking nice and is also fast and smooth to play on.
     
  3. Nov 21, 2005 #3
    Geoff St. Germaine

    Geoff St. Germaine Commercial User

    Aug 31, 2001
    Halifax, Canada
    Owner - St. Germaine Guitars
    What do you mean by a laminating job? Do you mean a laminate neck, like 3 piece maple or something?

    I'm sure you can use wood hardener on a neck, though I'm not sure what you'd be trying to accomplish by using it.
     
  4. Nov 21, 2005 #4
    jaymeister99

    jaymeister99

    Aug 2, 2005
    No, just the final finish on a regular neck. The polyurethane(?) that usually covers a finished neck.

    As for using hardener, that would be to stiffen the neck, while at the same time using as a finish on the neck to prevent any moisture from getting into the wood (instead of a finish like polyurethane).
     
  5. Nov 21, 2005 #5
    jaymeister99

    jaymeister99

    Aug 2, 2005
    I was thinking about doing something like that, but using linseed oil instead of wax, would that work ok?

    Only problem is I would think it would be quite prone to moisture and/or warpage.
     
  6. Nov 22, 2005 #6
    WezV

    WezV Guest

    Sep 17, 2005
    Burton-upon-trent. UK
    i use danish oil and briwax to do a quick sleek neck.
     
  7. Nov 22, 2005 #7
    Geoff St. Germaine

    Geoff St. Germaine Commercial User

    Aug 31, 2001
    Halifax, Canada
    Owner - St. Germaine Guitars
    I have used both danish oil and tung oil, both with wax and have had very good results. I feel that the necks a very sleek feel to them as WezV has also said.

    My Dingwall has an oil/wax finish and it is very stable. I remember reading that Sheldon Dingwall felt that using a finish that inhibits the wood from breathing on the back of a neck with an unfinished fingerboards was a recipe for a neck that would change considerably with changing humidity as the fretboard would lose/gain moisture at a much greater rate than the neck finished with something like polyester/lacquer/etc.