You’re welcome Brad. I also checked out your video about fretboard oils. Also illuminating, even after 56 years of playing and messing around with guitars.
@@vincepalas7359 it takes about ten minutes to dry and you buff it off, then do another coat the next day. And so on until you have the look/feel you are going for
Honestly these vids are so awesome. I just finished my first guitar build and I was thinking Bout painting and oiling etc. Your videos are so so so helpful. Thank you !
beautiful finish , i painted and hand polished a neck recently , and i think it made that particular guitar feel faster than it had before . i wouldnt do it for every guitar i have though. the natural feel is an experience all its own. thanks for doing this video!
Awesome Brad! Never tried the modified tung oil, just the regular stuff but I hate waiting for it to cure!! I'm gonna order some Mohawk right after this video, thanks bro... Mike.
I have a Cort G290, the Neck is raw birds eye maple.... I do not like a raw wood neck. I was thinking of doing the linseed oil method. Now I'm leaning towards Tung oil. Thanks so much.
Just what I needed to see. Have a Solo Strat neck ("ST Style") coming tomorrow, and want to apply an oil finish. Maple fretboard. Not exactly sure how to remove the sealer, but I'm sure it won't be that big of a deal. Hopefully it won't be on the fretboard. Was going to try "Hope's Tung Oil", the price is right, and I can get it from Amazon w/free shipping. Really appreciate your vids!
Tung oil is my favorite... Tung on the back of the neck and head stock. Then I use Tru Oil on the front of the head stock because its so easy to work with and put decal under. Super simple, and that seems to suit me best. I wanted to retain a "wood grain" feel on my mahogany Tele neck, so I rubbed on a few coats of Tung oil (maybe 4), and after it was dry I sanded lightly. Then I repeated that process with several more coats, sanding after each. (I didnt sand the last coat which was very thin). I dont remember the exact grit. Maybe 200-400 range, but the grit of the paper contributes to the natural feel. I ended up with a great feeling neck which is well protected and looks good. I havent decided yet if I'm going to put a finish on the Ebony fret board. Actually, I'm not even sure if I should.
Hey Brad - Love your vids! Question I am getting into dyes on flame maple top Tele's. Can I use my fav TRU oil over a dye top that is completely dry???? Thank you sir. Jim - Sacramento
I've been using a (somewhat) equal parts mix of mineral spirits/polyurethane/tung oil. I ran across this "recipe" after searching which finishes can be combined (felling too lazy to strip off an old finish) It's been my favorite with the workability of a rubbed finish but quicker drying time and better durability. Is this Tung Oil similar to that. I think you said it was polymerized if I heard correctly. Anyway great video as always. Shoutout to Guns-n-Guitars for introducing me to your channel.
To me, having a super glossy neck reminds me of a basketball court. So I imagine your hand does the exact same thing on a glossy neck that it does on a basketball court. Skiiirrrrtttttttt! You know that sounds lol!
Thanks, Brad, for the vid! I've generally used tung or bore oil (for woodwinds) and had good results with both. I've often wondered is the two aren't the same (for the most part). Maybe someone can chime in with a technical explanation of the differences or similarities? Thanks again!
@@BradAngove That's been my thought, as all woods love some kinda oil love after they stop being trees. I've tried all kinds of oils and some woods (or purposes) lean towards tung or linseed....
Very nice 👍 It's a very good job. we expect the continuation of successful videos. Thank you very much for sharing this work with us. and subscribed to your youtube channel to support youtube educational video channels. Respectfully. :) 👍
Great video, as usual. I discovered tung oil finishes on yhe neck a while ago when I bought a guitar that had one, however, It never occured to me to use it on the fretboard! That is def going into the trick bag-does it leave any residue etc, on the frets?
I don’t necessarily try to sand all the sealer off if there is sealer on there, but I do sand the neck somewhat to allow the oil to stick to it properly.
Hi Brad, I just received my Solo Strat build and bought the modified Tung oil as per your suggestion! Should I sand the back of the neck before applying?? Thanks for the great Videos
Excellent video, as always !! If I may, I would like to ask you a question. Can I apply a tru oil type oil finish to stained wood? Does it resist dye or does it come off? Excuse my ignorance. Thanks from Spain
Hi Brad - love the channel, thanks for sharing your expertise. Question: I have a Solo kit, with maple neck & fretboard. I am going to use aniline dye on the body and would like to try and also dye the neck to match but not dye the fretboard. Will tune oil after dyeing. Is there any risk of the dye bleeding into the fretboard even if I carefully mask the edges? Complete novice and this is my first build so any advice is appreciated 🙏🏼
You have to be very careful, due can sometimes bleed under the tape. You may want to seal the edges of the board with a bit of lacquer to prevent dye from soaking in there.
Brad Angove how about Tung oiling the fretboard, before dyeing, would that have the same effect as the lacquer? Thanks for your prompt response. Hope you and yours are comfortable and well.
Great video ! What about the headstock decal ? Should I stick it before applying the tung oil or after ? Will tung oil protect it if I use it over the decal?
Hey Brad, thanks for all your great videos and tutorials. In regards to finishing necks, what is your opinion on using Shellac on guitar necks? Your thoughts on pros and cons.
Nice and simple...other videos want you to mix and be a chemist...nope nope nope....I just want this...simple How long does this take to dry?..and what brand of oil is it??
I’m building my first guitar from a Solo kit. I’ve been watching many of your videos regarding painting and finishing. Do you still use tung oil for the necks? You may have discussed this in other videos. Still working my way through them. Thanks.
Hi Brad. Thanks for making these videos! My kit from the Fretwire has a maple neck and fingerboard and the instructions say that it is raw wood. Do I need to to take any additional steps to prep the neck and fingerboard for oil? Will the first coat raise the grain? Thanks!
The first coat may raise the grain slightly, but not significantly. If you carefully apply your first coat with some sandpaper (400 grit or higher) that should take care of the grain issue all at once.
Great video. In regards to oiling the fretboard, do you prep the surface with fine steel wool or sand paper? Also is there a difference in application if the fretboard is made of engineered rosewood?
Only if you have some imperfections that you want to get out. Although it’s not a bad idea to sand gently if you’ve let the oil dry overnight for example.
Hi Brad, I've tried (and have) the Waterlox original sealer finish - it's very good but just misses the mark for me as far as feel. Was curious if you've tried it and how it compares to the Mohawk (they seem like very similar products). Thx for the videos.
Definitely looks awesome. It would be cool to try it on a piece of scrap wood first to see if I liked it. So what position do you play in rugby, not that I'm into sports or would know it apart from playingTriviacrack on the phone as a sports' question.
I only do one on the board. For the neck it’s a matter of preference. The stuff takes a long time to dry. I generally do 5 or 6 for pure tung oil, but that doesn’t build up much.
Well done video. I have some Tung Oil (from years ago) and considering using it on my Fret Board. It is on a brand new Ibanez 12 String Electric (Ibanez Artcore AS7312 Semi-Hollow). The wood is not Rosewood (seems too light in color), and definitely not Maple. Not sure what they used but looks a little dry to me. I would like to oil it and get rid of the dried wood look. (It may not be dry and might just be the type wood). I was going to use Old English Lemon Oil, which the bottle states it is 99% Mineral Oil, but I am getting conflicting info online whether it should be used or not. I could use some advice on treating the neck. Thanks. Phil NYC / Jersey Shore Area
@@BradAngove Thanks Brad for the reply. My Tung Oil that I have is many years old, does it go bad? I have one can that is opened and one can that was never opened, even though it's many years old. Wasn't sure if Tung Oil goes bad. Thanks. Phil
How is modified tung oil different than regular? Can't seem to find it on Amazon either. Also, can I use a water-based stain before the tung oil? Finally, any thought on Tru oil? Thanks.
Hi Brad, so when using modified tung oil do I not need to cover up the frets when doing the fretboard? Just curious, I'm doing a Tele DIY Kit from Solo as well.
just wondering how the polymerized Tung Oil would work on a maple fretboard...I'll be picking up a Tele kit from Solo and I plan on finishing the body (and back of the neck) with this but would it be good for a maple fretboard or should I go with something else, maybe a wipe-on poly? Would love to get your thoughts on this, Brad and BTW this is my first build! so assume I know nothing ;)
So let's say you have a set neck guitar... And you want a nitro finish on the guitar body... How would you combine that with a tung oil finish on the neck? Would you just "draw" a line and finish one part nitro/one part oil? Or would you overlap them somehow? As always, lots of great info here... Including how to deal with child-proof lids...
I would tape off the neck to spray the nitro on the body, and then oil the neck afterward. I’m glad you like the tip with the lids haha. I feel like more people need to see the video I did on that.
Hey Brad! I have a squier standard stratocaster, with a maple neck and fingerboard. I would love to make an oil finish on it with tung-oil because I think it's boring how the wood is looking now, I don't know if there is some kind of finish on it. It's very smooth but it isn't so shiny, do you think it will work to use tung-oil on it? Should I sand it down first?
I think it would be nice to do it on my base and my acustic guutar as well (but just the fingerboards). The base has an rosewood fingerboard and the guitar has an American black walnut fingerboard.
You don't need to sand the neck too much, but you should abrade it a bit so that the oil can stick properly. Then you should be fine. I would use 320 grit, but the directions on the can recommend 180.
@@BradAngove Okey! Thank you so much Brad, I really appreciate it. I don't think that the oil I'm using is modified but I guess it will still work. It's dryness is 44%, and it contains alkyd and propynyl butyl carbamate, I don't know if that's correct (I'm translating it from Swedish so yeah haha). I think the name was even longer.
Sounds like Mohawk's version of Tru-oil which is a polymerized tungoil as is Crimson Guitar's finishing oil. Cool stuff. Brad how long does it last in the container? I've noticed Tru-oil goes bad in a short time. Perhaps Mohawk's lasts longer? Keep up the great content!
It can skin up a bit after a few months, but you can prevent that by using a clamp to crush the container a bit in the middle and raise the oil level to the top. That removes the air and solves the issue.
@@BradAngove yeah ok , thanks , what sort of thinner oils Brad ? because I wanted to stay away from lemon oil and linseed oil because of the nasties in them etc I'm a newbie to finishes on necks and I dont want to leave it unfinished, though warmoth say on their website it can be no finish required type of wood but true-oil at least darkens it a little or brings out the grain so to speak, I don't want full gloss but like I have seen your satin finishes on other projects and tutorials. thanks again for replying to me, hope you do great in the greatguitarbuildoff 2020 too
You didn't elaborate much about the feel of the oiled neck, other than comment on how varnished necks stick to your hands. Well, as I play a '69 Tele Thinline with a varnished maple neck, he, he...How does an oil finished neck feel? Is it like most satin finished necks? Or does it have a completely unique feel? You almost have to be a wizard to know how to mix all this stuff. I'm both mystified and amazed.
To me, the oiled neck feels a bit like running your hand over a high-quality piece of bond paper (I know that’s a nerdy reference). It’s like taking a very smooth piece of wood and just adding a bit of sheen to it. A thin barrier. Almost like you’re not feeling a finish at all.
This one would work. So would Odies oil (original). If you really want no color at all you would go with a water based finish. Mineral oil also has no real hue to it, but it’s not particularly protective.
You need to soak those surfaces. Really soak them. Wait 15 minutes, wipe and repeat. If you do not the neck will have dry spots. Repeat the next day. The tung oil soaks into the wood, unlike a lacquer or plastic that sits on the surface.
My conversation with Brad through facebook messenger about 4 months ago - me - Hey Brad I am thinking of using Tru-oil on the neck of this SG, yes or no? Brad - Oh yeah, works great, love the feel! Me - OK cool thanks Brad! Brad - Sure man anytime! 4 months later this Angove character is now pushing freakin' modified tung oil, wth? LOLolol. Yes, you did say Tung oil kind of odd lol. I was actually looking down when you said it and I looked up because I thought you had something in your hand like a fake tongue or something haha. Listen it ain't gonna matter what you use or don't use, somebody somewhere is gonna disagree with you! Lol but you know this, but yeah it gets kind of annoying huh? Hey Brad, do you subscribe to Trogly's? If you do, his recent video on that Cobra burst, I think I want to try finishing a guitar in that. So, you do it first so I know how, hahahaha. No but seriously man, how do you think they get that finish? I think they stain the bare wood ebony, then sand it off but leave the marbled areas highlighted with the ebony, then it looks like they put a very light coat of a mettalic gold on it then seal it all with nitro. If you don't subscribe to his channel it's "The Trogly's guitar show" - subscribe!! lol. I was thinking they did what you did with the tele, using that bronzing powder and sanding it off again?
This stuff is pretty similar to tru oil. You know that! Haha. Yeah, that burst just looks like a typical black sandback with some gold in the grain and a bit of very gentle amber over it.
A kit I am currently working on has pre drilled screw holes in the headstock, which I need to fill in for better quality machine heads. Can you use tung oil over filler?
Say, what is the maintenance of this finish on fretboards? I use a planet waves moisturizing product, this type of finish would prevent it from working, or it could even make a chemical reaction and ruin the fretboard. So how do you hydrate the fretboard in these types of finishes? I do think its nice for the neck, but im afraid of using it on the fretboard
It actually creates a bit of a finish, so it’s lower maintenance than the hydrating oils because it doesn’t dry out over time the same way. No need to use those on top of this. That wouldn’t accomplish anything really.
This is just a shop towel. The directions suggest letting it sit for 24 hours and sanding lightly between coats. I apply a couple coats and then do that.
Hi Brad, I'm RE finishing an old precision bass and tung oil would be perfect for the neck. I believe it won't work if applied on some existing finishing (I believe some varnish or whatever), right?.... So.. My question Is ... Can I use tung Oil if sand out part of the old finish or it just works when using on a naked wood? I recently built I guitar finished with tung Oil (direct on the wood), it is very cool.... Greetings from Brazil and congrats on the channel!!
@@BradAngove how many coats of oil should I put on the fretboard? Should that be the same with the neck? Thank you. I think I gonna do 3 or 4 coats for all the guitar for the satin finish but I don't know how many is ok for the fretboard.
I have finished a telecaster body with 5 coats of pure tung oil, but It feels a little rough to the touch. Should I wet sand It with like 1000 grit paper?
@@BradAngove I found this online “Hemp oil extract is a perfect ingredient for anything that has an oil base, including non-toxic, environmentally friendly paints, varnishes and inks. Hemp oil is water resistant and when applied to wood as a varnish or paint, it soaks deeply into the wood grain. This protects the wood, rendering it water resistant as well. Hemp paint was enormously popular with artists in the past, including Rembrandt, Thomas Gainsborough and Vincent Van Gogh, who all used hemp paint, canvases, solvents, cleaners and lubricating oils.” In addition it gives a nice smell 😅
Danish oil leaves a thinner finish with even less protection, but it’s generally fairly similar and it dries reasonably fast. The small shirts are a safety measure right? Keeps them from getting caught in a saw...
@@BradAngove Soooo after either Danish or Tung, can I just Lacquer with a Nitro spray can... and have you used the Northwest Guitar spray cans.. ? Cheers Brad... fountain of all knowledge (well that I give two toots about anyway) 👍
Brad, I have been watching a lot of your videos, great stuff🤛. I am building a kit guitar for the first time. You suggested using Mohawk modified tung oil on the neck but I cannot find it anywhere. I can find lots of teak oil, pure tung oil, Danish oil, walrus oil but no modified tung oil. Any suggestions Terry
Teak oil also works fine. I like pure tung oil, but it takes a very long time to dry. I’ve also used Danish oil for necks; it gives a nice smooth feeling.
@@BradAngove I’m doing an alder tele body that I’m going to use timber mate wood filler on first. Then keda dye blue. Then I think the dryer added tung oil but I’m considering adding some poly to the tung blend too. Thanks again love your channel!
Tung oil is the way to go. Anything else is just a more expensive version of tung oil. Do not waist your money. Tung oil comes under many different labels but all the same stuff.
Love all your videos! Learnt a lot. I am currently doing a new guitar project so i am looking for some reasonable price tele neck. Beside warmoth and all parts. Do you have any good recommendations on which link i can go to. I had tried several sellers in aliexpress with no luck. Most of their neck are like look nice, but feels crappy. Nice thick lacquer but hollow when u knock with your knuckles on the back of the neck. Thanks
@@BradAngove one more question if you don’t mind me asking. I’m using the ColorTone “Amber” on the back and neck and I want it to be “shiny” so I use clear coast or an oil? Sorry I’m a newbie at finishing
Why do my comments keep getting deleted? I posted about doing this to one of mine and it was deleted twice. And that's literally all I posted. Not vulgar. Not rude. 🤷♂️
All I posted was that I needed to try this out on an "u n f i n i s h e d m a p l e" neck that I have. 🤷♂️ Apparently there's something wrong with that and it keeps deleting my comment. 🤔 The only thing I've changed is what's in quotations and now it's not being deleted. That's weird.
![[#2024MAMA] ROSÉ (로제), Bruno Mars - APT. | Mnet 241122 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dgGqD28J6aQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Man, your videos are the best. You've made a video for practically every question I've googled while building guitars. Thanks so much for what you do!
Thanks Evan. Glad to hear I’ve covered most of the curriculum haha.
That rosewood looks amazing with the oil finish. Thanks again for another informative video.
Thank James. I’m glad you like it.
You’re welcome Brad. I also checked out your video about fretboard oils. Also illuminating, even after 56 years of playing and messing around with guitars.
@@BradAngove work just as well for Indian laurel fretboard as well?
Oil finish is my favourite by far! This looks like thin tru oil or gun stock finish. Looks great
Indeed. It’s an excellent option.
I just did this to my squier classic vibe. Sanded back all that sticky orange stuff and now it’s BEAUTIFUL
Awesome!
Brad Angove I want to do it to my necks that aren’t even sticky feeling. It makes the neck feel so smooth and fast
How many days it took it dry?
@@vincepalas7359 it takes about ten minutes to dry and you buff it off, then do another coat the next day. And so on until you have the look/feel you are going for
How many coats did you aply for super fast fealing nack? Did you use it on a maple nack
Sory on my bad Eglish.
Honestly these vids are so awesome. I just finished my first guitar build and I was thinking Bout painting and oiling etc.
Your videos are so so so helpful. Thank you !
Glad I could help.
beautiful finish , i painted and hand polished a neck recently , and i think it made that particular guitar feel faster than it had before . i wouldnt do it for every guitar i have though. the natural feel is an experience all its own. thanks for doing this video!
I’m glad your neck turned out well.
@@BradAngove me too , thank you sir
Awesome Brad! Never tried the modified tung oil, just the regular stuff but I hate waiting for it to cure!! I'm gonna order some Mohawk right after this video, thanks bro... Mike.
Thanks Mike. I hope it goes well for you.
very nice turn out! I've been using bore oil on my fretboards for years so far so good
Nice choice
I have a Cort G290, the Neck is raw birds eye maple.... I do not like a raw wood neck. I was thinking of doing the linseed oil method. Now I'm leaning towards Tung oil. Thanks so much.
It brings out a beautiful luster in the wood Brad lol
Indeed it does.
It's always bizarre as a European hearing the someone from across the pond saying "rugby". Super helpful video.
Would you prefer “footy”?
@@BradAngove "Ruggers" will do just fine thank you very much hahaha
Just what I needed to see. Have a Solo Strat neck ("ST Style") coming tomorrow, and want to apply an oil finish.
Maple fretboard. Not exactly sure how to remove the sealer, but I'm sure it won't be that big of a deal.
Hopefully it won't be on the fretboard.
Was going to try "Hope's Tung Oil", the price is right, and I can get it from Amazon w/free shipping.
Really appreciate your vids!
Tung oil is my favorite... Tung on the back of the neck and head stock. Then I use Tru Oil on the front of the head stock because its so easy to work with and put decal under. Super simple, and that seems to suit me best.
I wanted to retain a "wood grain" feel on my mahogany Tele neck, so I rubbed on a few coats of Tung oil (maybe 4), and after it was dry I sanded lightly. Then I repeated that process with several more coats, sanding after each. (I didnt sand the last coat which was very thin). I dont remember the exact grit. Maybe 200-400 range, but the grit of the paper contributes to the natural feel.
I ended up with a great feeling neck which is well protected and looks good. I havent decided yet if I'm going to put a finish on the Ebony fret board. Actually, I'm not even sure if I should.
You probably shouldn’t finish the ebony board. Ebony is so tight-grained it generally doesn’t need anything.
@@BradAngove
Thanks! I'll just hit it with some "Duck Wax" occasionally.
Very helpful. Thanks.
Nice, short informative. Great
Thanks Joe.
Another great vid, Brad -- thank ya!
Thanks Seth!
That's pretty slick
Thanks Jeff
Hey Brad - Love your vids! Question I am getting into dyes on flame maple top Tele's. Can I use my fav TRU oil over a dye top that is completely dry???? Thank you sir.
Jim - Sacramento
Yes Jim, you can do that.
I've been using a (somewhat) equal parts mix of mineral spirits/polyurethane/tung oil.
I ran across this "recipe" after searching which finishes can be combined (felling too lazy to strip off an old finish)
It's been my favorite with the workability of a rubbed finish but quicker drying time and better durability.
Is this Tung Oil similar to that. I think you said it was polymerized if I heard correctly.
Anyway great video as always. Shoutout to Guns-n-Guitars for introducing me to your channel.
Yes, this stuff is along those lines.
Cool im gonna try it too man👍
Good choice!
To me, having a super glossy neck reminds me of a basketball court. So I imagine your hand does the exact same thing on a glossy neck that it does on a basketball court. Skiiirrrrtttttttt! You know that sounds lol!
too true
Thanks, Brad, for the vid! I've generally used tung or bore oil (for woodwinds) and had good results with both. I've often wondered is the two aren't the same (for the most part). Maybe someone can chime in with a technical explanation of the differences or similarities? Thanks again!
I’m thinking bore oil is probably fairly similar to pure tung oil, but I can’t say that with any certainty.
@@BradAngove That's been my thought, as all woods love some kinda oil love after they stop being trees. I've tried all kinds of oils and some woods (or purposes) lean towards tung or linseed....
Very nice 👍 It's a very good job. we expect the continuation of successful videos. Thank you very much for sharing this work with us. and subscribed to your youtube channel to support youtube educational video channels. Respectfully. :) 👍
Great video, as usual. I discovered tung oil finishes on yhe neck a while ago when I bought a guitar that had one, however, It never occured to me to use it on the fretboard! That is def going into the trick bag-does it leave any residue etc, on the frets?
You just wipe it off at the end. It comes off the frets easily and the stuff that has soaked into the wood stays there.
Do you have to sand off any sealer on the neck before applying the oil? Thanks and keep up the great videos!
I don’t necessarily try to sand all the sealer off if there is sealer on there, but I do sand the neck somewhat to allow the oil to stick to it properly.
Hi Brad, I just received my Solo Strat build and bought the modified Tung oil as per your suggestion!
Should I sand the back of the neck before applying??
Thanks for the great Videos
I would give it a light sanding first.
Excellent video, as always !! If I may, I would like to ask you a question. Can I apply a tru oil type oil finish to stained wood? Does it resist dye or does it come off? Excuse my ignorance. Thanks from Spain
Yes, you can apply tru oil over stain. Just make sure the stain has had plenty of time to dry first.
Hi Brad - love the channel, thanks for sharing your expertise. Question: I have a Solo kit, with maple neck & fretboard. I am going to use aniline dye on the body and would like to try and also dye the neck to match but not dye the fretboard. Will tune oil after dyeing. Is there any risk of the dye bleeding into the fretboard even if I carefully mask the edges? Complete novice and this is my first build so any advice is appreciated 🙏🏼
You have to be very careful, due can sometimes bleed under the tape. You may want to seal the edges of the board with a bit of lacquer to prevent dye from soaking in there.
Brad Angove how about Tung oiling the fretboard, before dyeing, would that have the same effect as the lacquer? Thanks for your prompt response. Hope you and yours are comfortable and well.
If you use the modified tung oil you should be able to seal it sufficiently to prevent bleeding.
Great video ! What about the headstock decal ? Should I stick it before applying the tung oil or after ? Will tung oil protect it if I use it over the decal?
I would do it after. Tung oil won’t do much to protect something like a decal.
cool video, you should filter oout those low freq from your mic.
Hey Brad, thanks for all your great videos and tutorials. In regards to finishing necks, what is your opinion on using Shellac on guitar necks? Your thoughts on pros and cons.
I find it a bit soft for a neck finish, but I’m sure it has been done. I just don’t do it.
@@BradAngove Appreciate your expertise and input.
Compared to polymerized tung oil, what’s your take on polymerized linseed oil? What would be better for a jazz master solo guitars guitar neck?
I’ve never used polymerized linseed oil as far as I know.
Nice and simple...other videos want you to mix and be a chemist...nope nope nope....I just want this...simple
How long does this take to dry?..and what brand of oil is it??
It takes 24 hours to dry most of the way, but continues to harden for some time after that. It’s Mohawk brand.
Shirt's too tight. 😂😂😂😂😂😂 Nah. Great lesson on the tung oil. I actually DO use it in my beard BECAUSE of the smell.
Hahaha
I’m building my first guitar from a Solo kit. I’ve been watching many of your videos regarding painting and finishing. Do you still use tung oil for the necks? You may have discussed this in other videos. Still working my way through them. Thanks.
I do sometimes. I use Odies oil more often now.
Will any kind of tung oil work? Great video thank you so much for sharing with us.
Modified/polymerized tung oil will. Pure tung oil is different.
Hi Brad. Thanks for making these videos! My kit from the Fretwire has a maple neck and fingerboard and the instructions say that it is raw wood. Do I need to to take any additional steps to prep the neck and fingerboard for oil? Will the first coat raise the grain? Thanks!
The first coat may raise the grain slightly, but not significantly. If you carefully apply your first coat with some sandpaper (400 grit or higher) that should take care of the grain issue all at once.
Great video. In regards to oiling the fretboard, do you prep the surface with fine steel wool or sand paper? Also is there a difference in application if the fretboard is made of engineered rosewood?
I just clean the fretboard with naphtha. No sanding. I’m not aware of any difference on engineered rosewood. It has still worked fine for me.
@@BradAngoveWhere can you find Naptha in a smaller amount when buying?
Is this better than linseed oil?
It is different. Depends on your preference.
Hey Brad!
Do you sand after a few coats and apply a final thin coat?
Yes
Great video. Do you need to sand in between coats?
Only if you have some imperfections that you want to get out. Although it’s not a bad idea to sand gently if you’ve let the oil dry overnight for example.
Great video! Is Tung Oil just as friction-less as Gunstock oil? What's the slickest finish possible?
It’s very smooth and not very glossy, so in terms of moving your hand over it it’s the slickest finish I’ve found.
Hi Brad, I have a Solo DIY Tele kit too. What prep work did you do on the neck before adding the Tung Oil? Thanks
I sanded it with some 320 grit.
Looks great. I was told that Tung oil has a smell to it compare to a tru oil. Does the smell go away when it dries?
Yes, the smell gradually disappears as it dries.
Great video! Question for you, can you use tung oil on a fully rosewood neck?
Yes, you can.
Thanks for the tips! Do you sand the fretboard afterwards?
I don’t.
Hi Brad, I've tried (and have) the Waterlox original sealer finish - it's very good but just misses the mark for me as far as feel. Was curious if you've tried it and how it compares to the Mohawk (they seem like very similar products). Thx for the videos.
I haven’t used the Waterlox. I have heard good things about it though.
thx
What would be the steps if the neck I’m trying to finish is an open grain wood?
It depends on what you want for your finish. You may want to grain fill first before you start oiling/finishing.
Definitely looks awesome. It would be cool to try it on a piece of scrap wood first to see if I liked it. So what position do you play in rugby, not that I'm into sports or would know it apart from playingTriviacrack on the phone as a sports' question.
A few haha. Center, winger and flanker mostly.
Hey im about to finish my neck with what I believe is pure tung oil. How many coats should I be using on the fretboard and the neck? Great vid btw
I only do one on the board. For the neck it’s a matter of preference. The stuff takes a long time to dry. I generally do 5 or 6 for pure tung oil, but that doesn’t build up much.
Can you apply oil on glow in the dark side dots? Or should I tape the side of the fretboard?
I don’t see why not.
I have never tried tung oil but i have tried tru-oil and i hated it. Made the neck kind of sticky. I prefer using wipe on poly.
Wipe on poly is also a good option. I have a video where I applied that as well.
What is the prep process before applying the oil? Do you sand to a particular grit, and wipe off with mineral spirits or something like that?
You can. I like to sand to 400 or 600 grit before something like this.
Well done video.
I have some Tung Oil (from years ago) and considering using it on my Fret Board. It is on a brand new Ibanez 12 String Electric (Ibanez Artcore AS7312 Semi-Hollow).
The wood is not Rosewood (seems too light in color), and definitely not Maple. Not sure what they used but looks a little dry to me.
I would like to oil it and get rid of the dried wood look. (It may not be dry and might just be the type wood).
I was going to use Old English Lemon Oil, which the bottle states it is 99% Mineral Oil, but I am getting conflicting info online whether it should be used or not.
I could use some advice on treating the neck. Thanks.
Phil
NYC / Jersey Shore Area
Both of those options can work. I prefer tung oil personally.
@@BradAngove Thanks Brad for the reply.
My Tung Oil that I have is many years old, does it go bad? I have one can that is opened and one can that was never opened, even though it's many years old. Wasn't sure if Tung Oil goes bad. Thanks.
Phil
@uptownphotography I don’t think the sealed can would go bad, but the open one might have a bit of a skin on it.
@@BradAngove Thanks for the info. Appreciated.
Phil
How is modified tung oil different than regular? Can't seem to find it on Amazon either. Also, can I use a water-based stain before the tung oil? Finally, any thought on Tru oil? Thanks.
You can use it over water based stain. I’m not sure how to answer those other questions any better than I did in the video.
How is the on bodies? I an interested in boiled linseed oil. Can I apply this modified tung oil on top of BLO once dry?
Yes you can.
I haven’t used that one specifically
Can you use tung oil for finishing maple fretboard as well
Yes
How often I should apply it? once a year? Great video, thanks
Just when you think it has worn out and needs it, if at all.
@@BradAngove Perfect. Thank you so much👍👍👍
Hi Brad, so when using modified tung oil do I not need to cover up the frets when doing the fretboard? Just curious, I'm doing a Tele DIY Kit from Solo as well.
No, the oil won’t stick to the metal. It will just wipe off.
Brad Angove Awesome! Thanks Brad!
just wondering how the polymerized Tung Oil would work on a maple fretboard...I'll be picking up a Tele kit from Solo and I plan on finishing the body (and back of the neck) with this but would it be good for a maple fretboard or should I go with something else, maybe a wipe-on poly? Would love to get your thoughts on this, Brad and BTW this is my first build! so assume I know nothing ;)
Either of those should work fine. The poly will be more durable than the oil for sure if that’s your concern.
IS it ok to have that oil sit on the frets? should it be wiped off? I bought a can of Tung Oil Finish by Minwax, is that the same?
I generally wipe it off so that the frets are clean and smooth.
That finish should be similar.
So let's say you have a set neck guitar... And you want a nitro finish on the guitar body... How would you combine that with a tung oil finish on the neck? Would you just "draw" a line and finish one part nitro/one part oil? Or would you overlap them somehow?
As always, lots of great info here... Including how to deal with child-proof lids...
I would tape off the neck to spray the nitro on the body, and then oil the neck afterward.
I’m glad you like the tip with the lids haha. I feel like more people need to see the video I did on that.
Hey Brad! I have a squier standard stratocaster, with a maple neck and fingerboard. I would love to make an oil finish on it with tung-oil because I think it's boring how the wood is looking now, I don't know if there is some kind of finish on it. It's very smooth but it isn't so shiny, do you think it will work to use tung-oil on it? Should I sand it down first?
I think it would be nice to do it on my base and my acustic guutar as well (but just the fingerboards). The base has an rosewood fingerboard and the guitar has an American black walnut fingerboard.
You don't need to sand the neck too much, but you should abrade it a bit so that the oil can stick properly. Then you should be fine. I would use 320 grit, but the directions on the can recommend 180.
@@BradAngove Okey! Thank you so much Brad, I really appreciate it.
I don't think that the oil I'm using is modified but I guess it will still work.
It's dryness is 44%, and it contains alkyd and propynyl butyl carbamate, I don't know if that's correct (I'm translating it from Swedish so yeah haha). I think the name was even longer.
Where can you get this?
Sounds like Mohawk's version of Tru-oil which is a polymerized tungoil as is Crimson Guitar's finishing oil. Cool stuff. Brad how long does it last in the container? I've noticed Tru-oil goes bad in a short time. Perhaps Mohawk's lasts longer? Keep up the great content!
It can skin up a bit after a few months, but you can prevent that by using a clamp to crush the container a bit in the middle and raise the oil level to the top. That removes the air and solves the issue.
Would you have to sand down an existing finish before applying this? Say I have a Tele with a non-gloss neck
You should at least sand it back partially, although if that’s being done you’ll have a fast neck regardless.
is tru-oil similar, gun stock oil, and should I use it on an all pau ferro neck and fingerboard or just leave the fingerboard unfinished, ?
It’s similar and would work fine on the neck. It can be used on the fingerboard too, although typically people use thinner oils on the board.
@@BradAngove yeah ok , thanks , what sort of thinner oils Brad ? because I wanted to stay away from lemon oil and linseed oil because of the nasties in them etc I'm a newbie to finishes on necks and I dont want to leave it unfinished, though warmoth say on their website it can be no finish required type of wood but true-oil at least darkens it a little or brings out the grain so to speak, I don't want full gloss but like I have seen your satin finishes on other projects and tutorials. thanks again for replying to me, hope you do great in the greatguitarbuildoff 2020 too
Some woods are very tight and don’t need oil. Mineral oil is sufficient to darken it and give that oiled look, but I prefer tung oil personally.
You didn't elaborate much about the feel of the oiled neck, other than comment on how varnished necks stick to your hands. Well, as I play a '69 Tele Thinline with a varnished maple neck, he, he...How does an oil finished neck feel? Is it like most satin finished necks? Or does it have a completely unique feel? You almost have to be a wizard to know how to mix all this stuff. I'm both mystified and amazed.
To me, the oiled neck feels a bit like running your hand over a high-quality piece of bond paper (I know that’s a nerdy reference). It’s like taking a very smooth piece of wood and just adding a bit of sheen to it. A thin barrier. Almost like you’re not feeling a finish at all.
@@BradAngove thank you Brad. I admit I'm a bit behind on all the beautiful modern finishes, which is why I truly appreciate your knowledge and input.
@@landofahhs_1 Thanks Paul.
What oil would you recommend when I wan't a bright (uncolored) neck?
This one would work. So would Odies oil (original). If you really want no color at all you would go with a water based finish. Mineral oil also has no real hue to it, but it’s not particularly protective.
@@BradAngove Thanks a lot :D I really appreciate your videos. You're the one I trust the most with guitar making
Back here again now I’m trying it on my own neck it should be dry on Monday il tell you how it feels.
I hope it goes well for you.
@@BradAngove finished it a day early but it feels good.
You need to soak those surfaces. Really soak them. Wait 15 minutes, wipe and repeat. If you do not the neck will have dry spots. Repeat the next day. The tung oil soaks into the wood, unlike a lacquer or plastic that sits on the surface.
My conversation with Brad through facebook messenger about 4 months ago -
me - Hey Brad I am thinking of using Tru-oil on the neck of this SG, yes or no?
Brad - Oh yeah, works great, love the feel!
Me - OK cool thanks Brad!
Brad - Sure man anytime!
4 months later this Angove character is now pushing freakin' modified tung oil, wth? LOLolol.
Yes, you did say Tung oil kind of odd lol. I was actually looking down when you said it and I looked up because I thought you had something in your hand like a fake tongue or something haha. Listen it ain't gonna matter what you use or don't use, somebody somewhere is gonna disagree with you! Lol but you know this, but yeah it gets kind of annoying huh? Hey Brad, do you subscribe to Trogly's? If you do, his recent video on that Cobra burst, I think I want to try finishing a guitar in that. So, you do it first so I know how, hahahaha. No but seriously man, how do you think they get that finish? I think they stain the bare wood ebony, then sand it off but leave the marbled areas highlighted with the ebony, then it looks like they put a very light coat of a mettalic gold on it then seal it all with nitro. If you don't subscribe to his channel it's "The Trogly's guitar show" - subscribe!! lol. I was thinking they did what you did with the tele, using that bronzing powder and sanding it off again?
This stuff is pretty similar to tru oil. You know that! Haha.
Yeah, that burst just looks like a typical black sandback with some gold in the grain and a bit of very gentle amber over it.
A kit I am currently working on has pre drilled screw holes in the headstock, which I need to fill in for better quality machine heads. Can you use tung oil over filler?
You can, yes.
@@BradAngove Excellent, cheers Brad
Say, what is the maintenance of this finish on fretboards? I use a planet waves moisturizing product, this type of finish would prevent it from working, or it could even make a chemical reaction and ruin the fretboard. So how do you hydrate the fretboard in these types of finishes? I do think its nice for the neck, but im afraid of using it on the fretboard
It actually creates a bit of a finish, so it’s lower maintenance than the hydrating oils because it doesn’t dry out over time the same way. No need to use those on top of this. That wouldn’t accomplish anything really.
@@BradAngove thanks
How long should you wait between coats, and how long should you wait before mounting and stringing up the neck on a body? Thanks!
I wait about 30 minutes between coats and then give it a couple weeks before mounting generally.
@@BradAngove Do you prefer modified tung oil over tru oil? Thanks, Brad
I do, but they’re very similar.
What type of cloth do you use for application? Do you buff or sand between coats?
This is just a shop towel. The directions suggest letting it sit for 24 hours and sanding lightly between coats. I apply a couple coats and then do that.
@@BradAngove thanks for that. Last question, I promise. What grit?
800
Hi Brad,
I'm RE finishing an old precision bass and tung oil would be perfect for the neck. I believe it won't work if applied on some existing finishing (I believe some varnish or whatever), right?.... So.. My question Is ... Can I use tung Oil if sand out part of the old finish or it just works when using on a naked wood?
I recently built I guitar finished with tung Oil (direct on the wood), it is very cool....
Greetings from Brazil and congrats on the channel!!
If you sand through the old finish you should be able to use the tung oil. You can clean it with acetone first to help get rid of prior paint residue.
@@BradAngove perfect.. I'm certainly trying it out... thanks
Can you use that same oil on a guitar body after its been stained?
Yes
Did you sand the neck with 320 sandpaper before applying the tung oil? And Should I use tung oil or lemon oil on the maple neck? Thank you.
Yes I did. And lemon oil is mostly just a lubricant, not a finish.
@@BradAngove Thank you. Do we actually need to do a finish to the fingerboard? Is it ok if I keep it raw? Or having a protection will be better.
You don’t need to.
@@BradAngove thank you a lot for your help 🤗
@@BradAngove how many coats of oil should I put on the fretboard? Should that be the same with the neck? Thank you. I think I gonna do 3 or 4 coats for all the guitar for the satin finish but I don't know how many is ok for the fretboard.
I have finished a telecaster body with 5 coats of pure tung oil, but It feels a little rough to the touch. Should I wet sand It with like 1000 grit paper?
I wouldn’t wet sand. Just give it a light sanding with 800 or 1000 and then apply another coat.
@@BradAngove thank you Very much!
Hi Brad, I’ve used hemp oil on my mahogany Ukulele, and I want to use it on my unfinished Mahogany Guitar. What do you think?
I haven’t really used hemp oil, but it should perform no differently on a guitar than a ukulele.
@@BradAngove I found this online “Hemp oil extract is a perfect ingredient for anything that has an oil base, including non-toxic, environmentally friendly paints, varnishes and inks. Hemp oil is water resistant and when applied to wood as a varnish or paint, it soaks deeply into the wood grain. This protects the wood, rendering it water resistant as well. Hemp paint was enormously popular with artists in the past, including Rembrandt, Thomas Gainsborough and Vincent Van Gogh, who all used hemp paint, canvases, solvents, cleaners and lubricating oils.” In addition it gives a nice smell 😅
Nice. Sounds very versatile.
@@BradAngove I like the fact that it’s organic and it gives a darker color to the wood
Will Danish oil leave a similar finish?
Does this tung oil just dry faster?
Cheers Brad I wear my T's 1 size to small also 😇
Danish oil leaves a thinner finish with even less protection, but it’s generally fairly similar and it dries reasonably fast.
The small shirts are a safety measure right? Keeps them from getting caught in a saw...
@@BradAngove Absolutely 💯correct 😎
@@BradAngove Soooo after either Danish or Tung, can I just Lacquer with a Nitro spray can... and have you used the Northwest Guitar spray cans.. ? Cheers Brad... fountain of all knowledge (well that I give two toots about anyway) 👍
I haven’t tried that one, but I have successfully used nitro lacquer over polymerized tung oil before after giving it two weeks to dry.
Was this neck all ready sealed or does the tung oil seal it?
I don’t think this one was sealed in advance.
Hey Brad. +1 on Jim’s question. Also, can you tint tung or teak oil with dyes? Like Angelus?
I think he mentions this at 5:44. Hope this helps?
Indeed, I mention that you can tint it with aniline dyes. I have done it before in my series on the spalted top les Paul kit.
72dodge340 thanks dodge. I missed that.
Does this work well on a mahogany neck?
It doesn’t seal up the open pores as much as some finishes, but it still works well yes.
@@BradAngove thanks!
Brad,
I have been watching a lot of your videos, great stuff🤛. I am building a kit guitar for the first time.
You suggested using Mohawk modified tung oil on the neck but I cannot find it anywhere. I can find lots of teak oil, pure tung oil,
Danish oil, walrus oil but no modified tung oil. Any suggestions
Terry
Teak oil also works fine. I like pure tung oil, but it takes a very long time to dry. I’ve also used Danish oil for necks; it gives a nice smooth feeling.
@@BradAngove I bought pure tung oil. How long does it take to dry usually?
The pure tung oil takes a very long time to dry fully. A few weeks I think.
@@BradAngove Thanks Brad. To make it dry faster how much Japan dry or mineral spirits should I add per unit of pure tung?
@@BradAngove I’m doing an alder tele body that I’m going to use timber mate wood filler on first. Then keda dye blue. Then I think the dryer added tung oil but I’m considering adding some poly to the tung blend too. Thanks again love your channel!
How long does this take to dry?
Pure tung oil takes a few weeks. Polymerized/modified takes a day or two to be dry enough to work with.
is tung oil "finish" and modified tung oil the same?
Usually. The other stuff is often called pure tung oil.
What’s the difference with tru oil bro?
Not much.
Brad Angove would you recommend it? Or is better the way you do it?
I prefer the modified tung oil, but tru oil works fine.
Ohh ok ok bro! Thanks!
Tung oil is the way to go. Anything else is just a more expensive version of tung oil. Do not waist your money. Tung oil comes under many different labels but all the same stuff.
Love all your videos! Learnt a lot.
I am currently doing a new guitar project so i am looking for some reasonable price tele neck.
Beside warmoth and all parts. Do you have any good recommendations on which link i can go to.
I had tried several sellers in aliexpress with no luck. Most of their neck are like look nice, but feels crappy. Nice thick lacquer but hollow when u knock with your knuckles on the back of the neck.
Thanks
Guitar build UK seems to have some nice ones but I’ve never tried them. Solo music gear has a variety of different qualities.
can you put this on top of a stain?
Yes, but it has the potential to lift some of the stain depending on the type.
@@BradAngove thanks for the information
@@BradAngove one more question if you don’t mind me asking. I’m using the ColorTone “Amber” on the back and neck and I want it to be “shiny” so I use clear coast or an oil? Sorry I’m a newbie at finishing
If you want it really shiny you will want to use a gloss clear coat.
@@BradAngove thank you
No gloves needed?
You should probably use gloves.
@@BradAngove That's what I thought.
Beard oil! HA HA
Can you get a even smaller shirt next time?
I’ll see what I can do.
Why do my comments keep getting deleted? I posted about doing this to one of mine and it was deleted twice. And that's literally all I posted. Not vulgar. Not rude. 🤷♂️
All I posted was that I needed to try this out on an "u n f i n i s h e d m a p l e" neck that I have. 🤷♂️
Apparently there's something wrong with that and it keeps deleting my comment. 🤔 The only thing I've changed is what's in quotations and now it's not being deleted. That's weird.
I’m not sure why it’s been doing that, but this didn’t show up in my notifications for some reason.
I just put a shit load on with a paint brush. Now i feel stupid.
It’s only stupid if it doesn’t work. How did it go?
It went alright the brush is useless now though.