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I love the look and feel of wood sanded up to about a million grit and rubbed with wax. I was wondering about trying in a guitar. Obviously, it's not going to provide the protection or durability of a film finish, but would it be detrimental?

If I did it and it turned out to be a terrible idea, could I get enough wax out of the wood to put a finish on it later?

I build for myself, so I'm not thinking of a client here.

By the way, are there tricks to using the search function? I get zero hits on the word "wax." A while back, I also noticed problems searching for info on "MJ." Apologies to OP for hi-jacking his thread. Oh, that's me. Apology accepted.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

I'll offer my opinion.

Wax only on a stringed instrument just isn't a good idea. I know it's for you but there's plenty of reasons not to do it. It's really high maintenance...buildup...it'll get dirty from you handling it.

I've not done it on an instrument...done it on plenty of furniture and agree it feels good, but, there are soooooo many other choices that can give you the waxed only look with more protection.

For instance 1 coat of Waterlox Sealer and Finish. 1 coat of TruOil.

As an aside I suppose you could try it and see....and then if you don't like it put a couple seal coats of shellac on it and then apply your topcoat. Seem like an awful lot of trouble though.

Just my 2 cents.

Chris

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

Ah yes the finishing bugaboo, I've got it too!
I have a finishing video by Bob Flexner & that is the first finish he shows how to do on small items that get little wear. You're right it can feel like silk. His second finish is the same thing except with 1 coat of shellac first. One coat of shellac is not too difficult too apply. I would say try that except maybe 2 or 3 coats of shellac or maybe apply shellac like a FP spit coat, which is not too difficult, then a light 600 & then go with the wax.
I'm not sure but I think there are solvents that remove wax. With a shellac base any future removal of the wax shouldn't ne too bad IMO.
Mike McNerney

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Mike McNerney

I've never liked wax as a finish except for small trinkets. I do like to use a good carnuba-based wax over the finish on furniture to give it a good feel and smell for the customer. In your case you might want to try Tru-Oil. It is much more durable than wax although softer than lacquer and it also has a really good feel. Lots of people use it on necks for that reason alone. It is also easy to put on. Lots of info on how to do it in the archives or ask if you can't find it.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Burnishing with wax seems to be the traditionnal finish for lute tops. Go for it. It's going to be fragile, but it's your guitar.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Mike: Have you considered future repairs...?

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I had not thought about it getting dirty. You can't just sand back to clean on a guitar, can you?

Repairs -- can you expand?

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

Mike: Wax getting into the wood and complicating attempts to glue during repairs.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

You might think about a seal coat of shellac first.

Link

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.