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Double Bass Beginner varnish method

M

masterbasss

Sep 16, 2007
15
0
#1
Hello.
I´m a double bassist and a luthier fan. I make some domestic reparations (sound post, bridge, gluing...) and my next callenge is to varnish a DB.
I would ask about an easy varnish (I have read Martin Sheridan advice on a recipe) and a single method of apply because my lack of experience in this and the huge area of a double bass.

Thank you.

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#6
Yes, of course I have read this post. Very good one I think. Probably I was not too much concrete on my question, and I´m sorry about that.

In a few books I read spirit varnish is better for beginners but I have read also that spirit is more difficult to apply than oil varnish.

I doubt between the two and I aks to the experts, what do you think is the easiest way to varnish? spirit or oil?

May be there is the two opinions, prossibly things are not black o white, but I propose the question.

Thank you and sorry for my English


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Spanish Double bass Forum.
 
#7
I'm certainly no expert, but I have very fresh experience having just done spirit and oil varnishing. In general, oil is easier because you have more brushing time, but it also takes longer to dry. Spirit is fine as long as you don't try to go back and fix anything after it starts to dry, and don't try to blend in wet with partially dry areas. You'll make a mess. You'll have to do more coats of spirit and even if each coat looks a little streaky or incomplete, together they will even out.

I think the most fool proof way is to pad on the varnish using something like Tru Oil.
 
#8
Don Harris said:
...In general, oil is easier because you have more brushing time, but it also takes longer to dry. Spirit is fine as long as you don't try to go back and fix anything after it starts to dry, and don't try to blend in wet with partially dry areas. You'll make a mess. You'll have to do more coats of spirit and even if each coat looks a little streaky or incomplete, together they will even out....
Click to expand...

Thank you.
I found this very interesting and useful.
I´m now testing the varnish y some wood pieces. I brought a spirit vanish dark brown, but after testing I think I have to obtain a darker brown. It´s too light in my opinion.
It´s possible to add any dye to obscure the varnish?

Thank you


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Spanish Double bass Forum.
 
#10
Matthew Tucker said:
Try several coats of the spirit. Build up the colour in a few layers.

if you can find spirit-based stains they will work. I'm not sure whether asphalt (road tar) will dissolve in spirit but some people use that as a darkener.

mt
Click to expand...
Testing I put several coats and the color didn´t like me. I´ll research the asphalt method.

Thank you very much


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Spanish Double bass Forum
 
#12
Interesting that Joerobsen recommended TransTint. He's a varnish maker. I've used TransTint and been happy with the results on test strips.

If you make the color too intense for each coat, it becomes VERY hard to get the color even (I had to strip my bass after three coats). I think the trick is in averaging the color over a bunch of coats.

Asphalt definitely didn't work for me in spirit varnish. I maybe didn't try enough solvents though. It won't dissolve in alchohol for sure. It will in acetone, but then it wrecked my oil varnish barrier coats. I didn't know if you could add turpentine to a spirit varnish or not. Didn't try it. Apparently kerosene can be used in spirit to extend brushing time. Maybe it would work as an asphalt solvent.

Having just finished varnishing with a tinted oil varnish, I think I would recommend exploring the "glazing" method described on the "varnish matters" thread and others. I'm not very happy with the evenness of my color depending on the light. It might be easier to control the color distribution with glazing if you can master that technique. At least you know what you've got after you do it rather than waiting to see after 6-10 coats.
 

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