A few questions...

[justrfb]

Hello All.
I am headed right for the "finish" line (pun intended...) and have a few questions. I am finishing up the build on a spruce top, mahogany sides, back and neck, rose wood accents and curly maple bound dread kit. I am looking for a simple, hand applied (no spray) finish to bring #1 build to a nice close. After all the prep and flat sanding, I am going to fill the pores with Z-poxy (neck, sides and back) and then I will Tru-Oil the whole thing. Am I missing anything? I am going for a little humor here along with looking for some sound, simple advice to getting a nice finish that will last. Thanks for your patience, help and enthusiasm as I look forward to starting # 2. You guys are all number 1 in my book...

Sincerely,
Rich

[darren]

There are enough reports of tru-oil failing over zpoxy that I won't try it. If you're set on using zpoxy look into wipe on poly, otherwise you can porefill with a slurry created with tru-oil and 220 grit paper, and continue with the oil process. That's a more organic, tactile finish than the zpoxy/poly route, so your intended final look will sway your decision there...

viewtopic.php?f=48&t=5696&p=27898&hilit=tru+oil#p27898

full disclaimer: I haven't used the wipe on poly but would like to someday.

There's also french polish...

[mjmeehan]

I've never used zpoxy but I have done 4 instruments with tru oil and I love it.

I pore fill with timbermate, polish on a few layers of shellac- let it cure then sand it to a mirror shine, and apply the tru oil. Once the tru oil cures you can buff it with swirl remover. It takes a little longer than some other finish schedules but I've learned (the hard way) that this is a step you don't want to hurry.

If you use zpoxy maybe using shellac as a barrier will work?

[justrfb]

Thanks darren and mjmeehan.
I appreciate the help. If Z-poxy is not the way to go, I am OK with that... I just have some left over from my RC plane building days. Mjmeehan, can I bother you for more information? Could you please show me a picture or two of the guitars you finished with your process? Also, could I bother you to give a little more detail on the process (if there is more to it)? What is Timbermate? what "kind" of shellac? Where do you get your supplies? I am still very new to this guitar building thing and when I am new to something, I like to go exactly with "tried and true" methods and then adapt if need be... Thanks so much for your help and time.

Sincerely,
Rich

[mjmeehan]

Sure.
I get the timbermate and shellac flakes from Woodcraft. Timbermate is a pore filler/ wood putty that comes in a nuetral tint so it can be dyed easily or you can get it pre-colored. I have used other water based fillers, I just like using this one. I have used U-Beuat liquid shellac and like it but it is pricey (from LMI). Shellac flakes dissolved with alcohol works fine. If you click on the link at the left for Mid Atlantic Luthiers Brian Howard has a video there demonstrating his french polish technique.
I apply enough that I can level sand the shellac with 1200 grit sand paper without sanding through the shellac. (I tend to be a bit more heavy handed than Brian is). After that cures I sand with Micro Mesh pads to get a mirror-like shine.
Apply the tru oil with folded coffee filters, adding thin layers and wiping off the excess. Don't apply the tru oil again until the first layer has dried otherwise you just smear the oil around. After every 3-4 applications I smooth it over with oooo steel wool, not too hard, just enough to level the finish. Multiple, thin layers are important. 10-12 layers later I let the oil cure at least three weeks, Buff it up with Swirl Remover polish, wipe it down with lemon oil and you're done.

Here's a link I've found useful- http://www.lmii.com/oil-finishes and a video that demonstrates some of this technique- http://youtu.be/A6zmitxywKU and a few pics. Best of luck!

[B. Howard]

Here is a link to my French polish demonstration video, oit may answer some of your questions.

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=5599

[naccoachbob]

When I built my first acoustic several years ago, I used Emtech 6000 from Target Coatings, which is a water based acrylic lacquer. The finish still looks pretty good to me, even though I had no clue on pore filling and getting a pure flat coating. It came in a 1 quart can and I think I might have used 1/3 of the can - I really can't remember if it was even that much. It was pretty easy to apply. And at that time, a number of people here were using it. I remember buying a brush recommended by another forumite because a really good brush is totally important. Hot water and soap cleaned the brush between coats.
I'm using a Nitro finish on my current one through aerosol cans - Deft. Tomorrow I'll start sanding and polishing the neck. The guitar body needed a few more coats on the b&s, so I'll start that next weekend. Good luck on whichever method you choose.
Bob