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Woods and the finishing thereof

B

BassPuzzler

Mar 29, 2011
22
0
#1
I am in the final stages of planning out my first build, and I have a couple questions.

How does a warmoth body blank compare to say...wood from home depot? Can I pick up wood of the same quality from a relatively inexpensive local place?

As far as finishing goes, I am looking for something that dries pretty quickly, and doesn't require special equipment. (Nitrocellulose is out). I could use a water-based lacquer, but I understand that they take quite a while to dry. What about oils?

For an alder body, I don't need a sealer or anything, do I? Just a topcoat?

Thanks!
 
#2
yes and no. the wood at home depot is in general not of the same quality as those selected for Warmoth necks. How the lumber is processed and dried is the primary issue. There is also a much weaker selection, in terms of species as well as dimensions. This is not to say that if you know what to look for you can't get most of the wood you need to build an instrument from a Home Depot type store, but you must be selective (and I would probably get a fingerboard somewhere else regardless).

Now, if you have a hardwood dealer that specializes in hardwood lumber, then it is much easier to get all the wood you need and potentially of the same quality as Warmoth, and cheaper.

As for finishes, use a polymerized oil finish. No need to fill grain or seal the wood. Requires no special equipment and looks good.
 
#5
You don't say which wood you have.
My Warmoth is Walnut (your chiropractor will hate you...). And is finished with at least 21 coats of gun stock oil (hand applied, and knocked down every three coats with finer grades of sandpaper) over grain filler, and then car wax in about three or four coats (burnished in with 100% cotton cloth). Absolutely bullet-proof finish, and no sprays or special requirements. Probably 15 years old, and I'm just getting to the stage where an additional coat of wax 'might' be needed.
Gun stock oil dries pretty quick, but overnight is best.
 
#10
ThudThudThud said:
You don't say which wood you have.
Click to expand...

That's because I don't have any wood yet. I was probably going to go with alder, but that may change.

Musiclogic said:
other than the fact that the bullet comes out of the barrel and not the stock, in some viewpoints, it is "bulletproof" if on the stock of a weapon, but that would be conjecture...LOL:hiding::p
Click to expand...

Well...that was contrived. Also, you could have another gun.

Alright thanks guys. I'll look into finding some oil and a hardwood dealer (stupid google - hardwood floors dominate the results).
 
#11
Google maps is a good tool for finding "hardwood lumber" dealers. It's not foolproof but I have found some good sources that way. Woodfinder is great, but not every yard is listed there. If you posted your location you might get extra tips from the LC regulars.

Alder is a good choice on the left coast, where it is plentiful.
 

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