How can i get swamp ash pattern to show with solid finish?

Hi,

I have an unfinished swamp ash body that has an incredible grain. I ll be going for a solid black color, however i want the pattern to show and to retain the grainy feel in the pattern. I dont want a high gloss finish, a satin feel would be nicer. The only example i could find was this guitar. Its a black stain prototype of some sort, nuno bettencourt custom.

I m assuming leaving the filler completely out would be the way to go? The guy at the shop i buy stain from suggested i mix it with less water so its heavier, and that i may have to do a few extra coats.

I m keen on using tru oil on the body, but after trying on some scrap for a while, i m starting to feel iffy about it, as it seems it just wont build up to a "thick film" type of thing. I cant use nitro, but i ve got some spray cans of clear satin poly around, except for the oil. I wouldnt use much, but feel a bit more comfortable about sealing the body properly and having some more protection.

Any thoughts-recommendations would be appreciated!

Thanx!

Hard to have both (solid paint with wood grain to show through).

It's probably do-able but I am guessing pretty hard to use black paint.

If the grain is so nice, I would recommend a transparent finish or better yet, keep it natural.

You might find some good tips if you follow this thread: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/finely-finished/334754-need-little-help-duplicating-fairly-easy-finish-i-think.html#post4258453

Hi,
You can retain the grain pattern by not filling the grain prior to painting.
Oldteleguy

Yes, just don't use any grainfiller.

And, obviously, either don't polish out the finish, or use a matte or satin topcoat.

The grain will only be noticeable up close though :shock:

Have you thought of putting a black stain on then sanding it back and then putting on a clear topcoat? You'd end up with a very pronounced grain.

Walnut media thru a sand blaster works good.

This...

You might find some good tips if you follow this thread: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/finely-finished/334754-need-little-help-duplicating-fairly-easy-finish-i-think.html#post4258453

Light coats and steel wool only after the painting has begun.

Thanx a lot for the help!

I bumped into a tele-cabronita type build someone had done on here, cant find the link for the life of me, however the clear was done with wipe on poly. I think i ll go for the stain as planned , and then i ll spray on the poly. Only thing that i m concerned about at this point is the deep pores in the swampash pattern, whether there will be enough clear in there to smoothen out the roughness of the pattern, so i was also thinking of the wipe on poly. I could perhaps use a tiny brush and maybe fill in the deeper areas with a bit more finish, then sand it flat to the level of the rest, then just steel wool.

Would that be a valid point?

Take a look around for something called a "dog hair" finish. The idea is that the base color is black, but the grain pattern is accentuated with a silver or white filler. Then the whole thing has a gloss over it. You'd have to be careful to apply the base color evenly so that it doesn't start to build up in the pores (opposite of what you usually try to do with a grain-filled finish). Then the contrasting color would have to be very very carefully applied and cut back to just reveal it in the pores, without burning through the underlying black color.

Just my luck I'd wind up sanding through the color like I always do with a stain-and-fill finish, so I haven't tried doghair. Yet.

Ok I found the example. it's in "finely finished" section on a thread about "silver fox"

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/finely-finished/320296-silver-fox-finish-how-do-they-do.html#post4045633

I wish I knew how to do the hyperlink thing.

you could use sowething like this

http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/shop/clear-blue-gloss/

Just as there is a way to do a see-thru-blonde finish, there is a way to do a see-thru-black finish. PRoper sealing, filling etc.......and some good nitro finishing abilities will get it done. And, imho, fine grain/figures in wood are best shown with a glossy finish. YMMV.....