Winter Build off 2022 - ThunderJag

[Bent77]

Well been a year since the bump. I haven’t played much at all I’m that period of time

The finish on this has continued to yellow, and is actually quite heinous looking at the moment

in between building another motor for the Camaro, this is getting done

 

[Bent77]

 

[Bent77]

Front half roughed down tonight

 

[Bent77]

The mahogany is easier to with with than other bodies it seems. Easier to keep the contours without the paper digging in as much

Any thoughts on how to prevent it from yellowing on the next go around?

 

[Jeff Siddall]

Use a non-tinted water based clear like Varathane Ultimate or Target Coatings EM9000. There is a whole thread about that here:

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/us...-coatings-9000-6000-and-varathane-wb.1116168/

It's a deep rabbit hole though, so you might want to start at the end and work backwards!

 

[Bent77]

Use a non-tinted water based clear like Varathane Ultimate or Target Coatings EM9000. There is a whole thread about that here:

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/us...-coatings-9000-6000-and-varathane-wb.1116168/

It's a deep rabbit hole though, so you might want to start at the end and work backwards!

Ok I’ll look into those. I used minwax clear poly for this and definitely didn’t get along

 

[Jeff Siddall]

Yeah, what they don't tell you on the label is that pretty much any oil-based finish will yellow over time. Ex:
Does Polyurethane Yellow? (Read This First!)

Water based generally stays clear

 

[Bent77]

Ready to start going up in numbers on the paper

 

[Beej]

That darkened grain looks killer

 

[Bent77]

This is actually the 3rd time I refinished it. The first time that darkened grain didn’t really show, so I guess that’s one good thing about refinishing it

 

[Bent77]

How do we feel about oil finish?

 

[Jeff Siddall]

Not my favorite on blue-ish things. Looks nice on red-ish things.

 

[Bent77]

Now we wait. I wonder if I went to clear too fast and maybe the dye or wood wasn’t 100% dry last time

 

[Jeff Siddall]

I wonder if I went to clear to fast and maybe the dye or wood wasn’t 100% dry last time

That's possible, but I don't think some extra moisture would be the cause of yellowing. It is oxidation and radiation that causes that, and unless your bass was stored in a dark vacuum it probably had access to those things.

 

[Bent77]

That's possible, but I don't think some extra moisture would be the cause of yellowing. It is oxidation and radiation that causes that, and unless your bass was stored in a dark vacuum it probably had access to those things.

None of that vacuum for sure. Pretty dry and stable environment too

 

[Jeff Siddall]

Yellowing is just what finish tends to do, but some definitely more than others.

One other thing to be aware of: avoid applying a very wet initial coat if you do go with a water based clear as it can cause the dye to move around a bit. After it is sealed wet coats are no problem.

 

[Bent77]

Thanks Jeff.

Although I did not have issues on previous finishes using the MinWax poly, I am definitely going to try the Verithane water based this time

 

[Jeff Siddall]

Now we wait. I wonder if I went to clear too fast and maybe the dye or wood wasn’t 100% dry last timeView attachment 5243613View attachment 5243613

BTW: that color still looks killer!

 

[Bent77]

Thanks! I almost switched to purple this morning in a moment of weakness, but cooler heads prevailed!

 

[Flamingo21]

Thanks @Jeff Siddall for the explanation on water based vs oil based poly. Very useful.

OP: I can see why you considered purple. It would have been more of a niche look, I think. In the end both are good choices.