How do I get this finish?

[RichardBM]

I'm going to try to build my first electric guitar and would like to end up with a finish like the one in the picture below.



I assume it's; Stain, Sanding Sealer, Clear.

What I'm having problems with is buying bright coloured stains.

Help??

[RufflyRustic]

Hi Richard,

Check out the water dyes UBEAUT has. That's the first thing I thought of when seeing that green.

While you're there, have a look at the Shellacs and the Finishing Book as well.

Then have a look at the other Music Instrument makers. I'm sure they will have touched on your question.

Cheers
Wendy

[son_of_bluegras]

I used to know a guy who built mandolins. For color he used leather dye and I think the finish was by french polishing.

ron

[ozwinner]

I have some food colouring dyes that are as bright as that, I got them from the supermarket, available from the baking section.

Al

[munruben]

I have done some coloured, timber products in the past simply using diluted paint, rubbing it in with a cloth. Finished it with a poly wipe (dont remember the one I used) and applied a wax with 000 steel wool and buffed it to give a nice glossy finish.Worked for me but may not be exactly the finish you are after but I am sure some of the members here will come up with some better suggestions than I have.

[RichardBM]

Thanks HEAPS guys.

I think I'll do a test with the food colour first, sounds nice and cheap. I like that.

[ozwinner]

Here is blue food dye on some ply drawers that I made, the ply didnt take the dye in some spots, I assume its glue on the surface that caused it?

Al

[JeffG.]

aniline dye, then laquer. I also felt the urge, but the final is a water based clear coat because high gloss wasn't practical for the shop.

[Lignum]

This is a chair i made a few years ago.
Its Quilted Maple using liquid clothes dye.

First I used a midnight blue aniline dye and left it to dry for 48 hours, then applied 2 coats of livos oil sanding with 800 wet `n dry (24 hours between coats) to "pop" the figure, then 4 coats of pre-cat lacquer.

Its a terrible photo, but you can see the quilting pop out. I got the idea from an article that Frank Pollaro did regarding his finishing on the stunning "George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue piano" he made.

[RichardBM]

Took a while to get back to this thread, but here's the (unfinished) result.
Before:



After:



Using this:

[Sebastiaan56]

Hi everyone,

How light fast are these food colours? Im in the middle of a Mandolin and am messing with various colour schemes but I like to think that there was some permanency if I use a dye

[Lukey]

Im in the middle of a Mandoline

I bet that hurts

[Sebastiaan56]

I bet that hurts

Only when I pluck..., not when I strum