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Tru-Oil Neck Question
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Author:  WudWerkr [ Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Tru-Oil Neck Question
I have Tru-Oiled the neck on my Padauk build and then used the Wipe on wax that tru-oil suggest however the neck isnt quite as slick as I would like . Any suggestions on making it slicker ? Just keep working more wax in ?
Author:  woodbutcher50 [ Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
Hi Jim,

I have used Tru-Oil on the necks of the three builds I have completed. I didn't use anything over the 12-14 coats of Tru-Oil that I used. I did buff them with extra fine Menerza compound, after I had let the finish cure for about 2 or more weeks. I'm no expert but I was pretty happy with the results.

Mark
Author:  ballbanjos [ Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
I don't use any wax on top of Tru Oil either. After going through various grits of micromesh and rubbing compounds, I typically do a final rub down with burlap. The burlap always leaves a nice smooth finish on necks.

Dave
Author:  woody b [ Fri Jan 20, 2012 5:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
Strip off the tru oil and finish it with Polyester. It will feel better and be more durable.
Author:  cphanna [ Fri Jan 20, 2012 6:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
Or remove the wax with mineral spirits, wipe clean and dry, and apply enough additional coats of tru oil to allow buffing. Seriously, if you put on enough thin coats and let it cure for a few weeks, you can polish it to an incredible glossy smoothness. Seems to me that wax coatings, while often beautiful, feel somewhat sticky under the hand. That's probably what you're experiencing.

Having said all that, "slick" isn't a very objective word. I've assumed you're talking about smooth. If you mean "without friction" then you might be better off buffing the back of the neck almost to bare wood--just leaving it sealed but not thickly coated. But I personally would not like the looks of that.
Author:  ballbanjos [ Fri Jan 20, 2012 6:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
woody b wrote:
Strip off the tru oil and finish it with Polyester. It will feel better and be more durable.


I have instruments that I built and finished with Tru Oil ten or twelve years back with finishes that are virtually unworn today even after heavy playing. These are probably the smoothest finished necks I've played too and glossy to boot. I think that Tru Oil's durability and feel, just like Polyester's or Nitro's, is very dependent on how it was applied to begin with.

If I'm french polishing, I typically sand through 320 or so and then start polishing. On the other hand, if I'm going to use Tru Oil, I take it through the finest grit of micromesh before I start applying the finish. That's kind of standard process for regular oil finishes, but it works well with Tru Oil too. If the neck feels nice and slick before any finish is applied, it's possible (and not really difficult) to get that same level of slickness out of a Tru Oil finish. If I only sand the wood like I would for lacquer or FP, Tru Oil doesn't produce a very slick finish from my experience.

Dave
Author:  John Coloccia [ Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
Rub the tru oil neck with 0000 steal wool and make it a nice satin. My satin necks are absolutely dreamy to play. Then again, I'm a function before form kind of guy.
Author:  Mike Lindstrom [ Sat Jan 21, 2012 8:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
A friend's Tru Oil neck was slow and draggy. We spent a little bit of time rubbing it with wet micro mesh. It's great now. I don't remember, but we may have also hit it with some Nu Finish once a year car polish, but I don't recall. Does anyone know if that's a silicone based product? I keep meaning to check.

Mike
Author:  WudWerkr [ Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
Mike Lindstrom wrote:
A friend's Tru Oil neck was slow and draggy. We spent a little bit of time rubbing it with wet micro mesh. It's great now. I don't remember, but we may have also hit it with some Nu Finish once a year car polish, but I don't recall. Does anyone know if that's a silicone based product? I keep meaning to check.

Mike



I used 6000 g and rubbed it down a bit yesterday , it took away the shine , but it is very slick now and is what i was looking for . I have more experimenting to do with Tru-oil but I do like using it . It is a VERY forgiving finish to work with .

Thanks for your comments
Author:  ernie [ Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
Hey all you true believers on tru-oil , where can one buy it ???? thanks ernie
Author:  cphanna [ Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
Hi, Ernie,
You can find it in a well stocked sporting goods store--the kind that sells hunting equipment, because it was originally a gun stock finish. Or your local hardware store can almost always order it for you if they don't have it in stock. It comes in bottles and in aerosol containers. The manufacturer's brand name is Birchwood Casey. Shake (if aerosol) or stir your tru oil before using each time. It's an oil varnish and you want to be sure that all the various components haven't separated. It'll work better for you if you remember to do that.

Hey Wud, try buffing it down with finer grits and see if you like it even better. The stuff really shines up nicely if you go all the way through the grits. If you don't like the result, just go back to your 6000 grit pad. And If you happen to buff through, just wipe on a couple more coats.

Patrick
Author:  WudWerkr [ Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
ernie wrote:
Hey all you true believers on tru-oil , where can one buy it ???? thanks ernie



I found the best pricing on Amazon.com
Author:  york [ Sat Jan 21, 2012 4:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
I can get Tru Oil at my local Dick's sporting goods, head toward the guns.
Author:  ernie [ Sat Jan 21, 2012 5:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
thanks, there is a dick/s sporting 5 mi from our home.
Author:  WudWerkr [ Sat Jan 21, 2012 8:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
Ernie , get the Tru-oil AND the filler sealer . You will be glad u did . Tru-oil DOES NOT fill , u will want the filler sealer as well
Author:  John Coloccia [ Sat Jan 21, 2012 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
FWIW, I've been using StewMac's waterbased grain filler under TruOil. I'd recommend taking it out of the metal can it comes in as it can rust, but I've been having good results.
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
You can get Tru-Oil on line from Birchwood Casey. http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/ I just bought a 32 ounce Tru-Oil and several of the 3 oz bottles of sealer/filler. They only pack it in the small bottles as it will dry up pretty fast. It's a good sealer/filler. Takes a number of coats, but can be sanded back in an hour.
Author:  cphanna [ Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
With due respect to our pal, Wud, I'm going to disagree based on personal experience: You can sand up a little slurry with your first application of tru oil (or any other oil varnish finish) and it will fill the pores very nicely. This must be done wet, it should be done with fine paper (220 or 320) and the residue must be wiped off across the grain, just as with any other pore filler. Like any other pore filler, you will probably do two passes before you get everything filled. It doesn't seem to matter what pore filler you use. You will probably do two passes to get all those pores filled. I almost ALWAYS need two passes, regardless of my filler. If you get it done in one pass, PLEASE detail how you did it! I've been trying to perfect that for about 35 years! Now, I should tell you that I usually don't rely on my oil finish to fill pores. These days, I use a commercial pore filler first, and I use this opportunity to apply some stains at the same time. That's just me.

You'll be fine. Let us know how it goes.

Patrick
Author:  ernie [ Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
Wud I plan to use the tru-oil on a cherry neck, The headstock is flamed red locust, so i planned to fill it as per above, or water based filler from hydrocote.
Author:  bftobin [ Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
I've found Tru-oil and Tung oil will start to gel in the can after a while, once air gets in there. If you can find 'accordian' type plastic bottles on ebay, they'll keep much longer
Author:  WudWerkr [ Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
bftobin wrote:
I've found Tru-oil and Tung oil will start to gel in the can after a while, once air gets in there. If you can find 'accordian' type plastic bottles on ebay, they'll keep much longer


Thanks , I appreciate that . My filler sealer is a glob in the bottom of the bottle now laughing6-hehe hopefully that will help.
Author:  Dave Rickard [ Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
I forget where I picked this up at but if you store your open bottle of tru oil up-side down after it's been opened you don't have to break through a layer of hardened tru oil to get to the un hard stuff.
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
Dave Rickard wrote:
I forget where I picked this up at but if you store your open bottle of tru oil up-side down after it's been opened you don't have to break through a layer of hardened tru oil to get to the un hard stuff.


I do this too. I also put some plastic wrap on the bottle before I screw the lid on. Sometimes it can be difficult to break the lid open if it sits too long.
Author:  ernie [ Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
I use glass marbles in my tung oil to keep it filled up.Use tung oil, add more marbles.
Author:  sdsollod [ Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tru-Oil Neck Question
When I've used tru-oil, I've sqeezed the bottle until the product comes up near the top of the bottle and then screwed on the top. This will eliminate the air space and helps to keep the product fresh. Since I only use it about once per year, I normally buy a fresh bottle. I've found it at Walmart before... [:Y:]
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