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PostPosted: Fri Dec 02, 2022 8:19 pm 
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Walnut
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First name: Patrick
Last Name: Wilson
City: Victor
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I'd like to build an L-00 style guitar one day and wondered about a black top stain that folks have used under Tru-Oil. Anyone with positive experiences staining spruce? Any particular black stains that folks like? Trans-Tint has a solid reputation but I've never used it on spruce.

Thanks in advance for the help!


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PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2022 9:59 am 
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Koa
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Location: Newland, North Carolina
I've used several black stains under Tru Oil, though none of them on spruce. I stain a lot of banjo rims black, and have used Tru Oil a lot on banjos (although I mostly french polish). The problem that I've encountered with all of the stains when using Tru Oil is that wiping the finish on tends to dissolve the stain to some degree and wipe a lot of it off. On banjo rims, I like this effect because it stays black but shows grain highlights through. On spruce, I doubt that I'd be happy with it. But I've used Trans Tint, Fiebings black leather dye, and a couple of aniline dyes. The Fiebings seems to stay blacker (again on maple), but still wipes off to some degree when wiping on the finish.

I've also tried mixing black dye in with Tru Oil like one might do with lacquer. It worked OK.

I'd think about spraying a black coat of lacquer first, instead of dying the spruce. Then follow with the Tru Oil as a top coat. The black lac wouldn't wipe away.

Dave



These users thanked the author ballbanjos for the post: Pmaj7 (Sat Dec 03, 2022 12:51 pm)
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2022 10:20 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Some gun stock finishers spray Truoil. If you have a small compressor you could buy a cheap jamb gun from Harbor Freight and spray the first few coats of Truoil, level sand, and then French polish the the remaining coats. I like to "mist on" light coats of finish over soluble stains so they don't dissolve and move from where I put them. Once they are under a few coats of finish, rubbing on more top coats is usually not a problem.
If you don't have a compressor you could use a spray can of Bullseye shellac to lock in the stain - again, mist on several light coats and level sand before rubbing on additional coats of Truoil.



These users thanked the author Clay S. for the post: Pmaj7 (Sat Dec 03, 2022 12:52 pm)
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2022 11:35 am 
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Contributing Member
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I have sprayed Trans Tint in shellac for color then finished with TruOil. Worked pretty well but I'd test on scrap first.

I also tried stain in the TruOil but could not get enough color. Staining the wood directly (maple) looked blotchy on the one I did.

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These users thanked the author SteveSmith for the post: Pmaj7 (Sat Dec 03, 2022 12:53 pm)
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2022 3:12 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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SteveSmith wrote:
I have sprayed Trans Tint in shellac for color then finished with TruOil. Worked pretty well but I'd test on scrap first.

I also tried stain in the TruOil but could not get enough color. Staining the wood directly (maple) looked blotchy on the one I did.


When I do a burst or painted/ stained top I like to first lay down a couple of coats of clear finish to seal the surface to avoid a blotchy appearance.
Mixing the stain/pigment into the solvent with just enough finish added to act as a binder can help build color without building finish thickness.



These users thanked the author Clay S. for the post: SteveSmith (Sat Dec 03, 2022 7:13 pm)
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2022 10:30 am 
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Walnut
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Lots of good ideas in here. Thanks! I appreciate it.

I have a bunch of Preval sprayers somewhere in my shop and I may give that a try on scrap first. I'll also try some of the different sealing ideas too.


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 4:49 am 
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Cocobolo
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I wanted a black finish under satin Osmo oil and had problems with the Osmo wiping the stain off, etc. and also found some of the black stains aren't really black. Then someone suggested Indian Ink. It worked really well. Of course this isn't spruce, but you could try it on scrap and Indian Ink isn't expensive and a little goes a ong way.


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 12:23 pm 
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Walnut
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Location: Atlanta, GA
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Dave Higham wrote:
Then someone suggested Indian Ink..


This was the first thing that came to mind when I read this. While I havent used India ink on soft woods like Spruce, I have used it on Maple, Poplar, and Walnut (I know, sacreligious) to dye furniture parts black and it works very well. I use Speedball brand India ink. Once it dries, I can wipe on oil or water based finishes without the ink smearing or bleeding into the finish. I imagine Tru Oil should be no different. I think a 16 ounce bottle is something like $25 on Amazon.


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 7:19 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2020 11:09 am
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First name: Patrick
Last Name: Wilson
City: Victor
State: NY
Zip/Postal Code: 14564
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thanks for the reminder that black isn't always black. Gonna check out the India ink.

By the way, cool looking bass! Love tortoise over black on Fender-y style instruments.


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