How to Finish guitar in Briwax

[Telecaster 101]

Hey guys ive purchased some Briwax Original to finish my ash telecaster body, but im wondering how I would use it.

Would I grain fill then sand down then apply the BRIWAX wih 3-5 coats?, after would I need to put anything on top to protect it?

Never used this before so no real idea on how to use it

Thanks

[nosmo]

I believe Briwax is a top coat. It's a mixture of carnuba & other waxes with a solvent. Best to fill first with Briwax sealer then use thin coats and polish it.

Follow the directions here: http://www.briwaxwoodcare.com/produse.htm

[glenn_N.Ireland]

Originally Posted by Telecaster 101

Hey guys ive purchased some Briwax Original to finish my ash telecaster body, but im wondering how I would use it.

Would I grain fill then sand down then apply the BRIWAX wih 3-5 coats?, after would I need to put anything on top to protect it?

Never used this before so no real idea on how to use it

Thanks

from past experience,
rustins sand and sealer on the body 2 - 3 coats, let dry
grain fill the ash, very open grained wood, apply lightly and not too heavy
leave the body for a day, and then lightly sand with 320 sandpaper
apply as many coats as needed to level out the top finish so that no ripples or low spots exist
flat with wet and dry paper up to around P1200
briwax, apply with 0000 wire wool working the briwax into the body
let dry and buff off
apply as many coats as you desire

[Keyser Soze]

In general I would not consider Bri-Wax a finish. At least not one for any wood that requires a finish. The problem is that wax does not penetrate well, nor does it provide much of a barrier to dirt, moisture, other oils, etc. And what little it does wears off pretty rapidly so needs re-application.

That said, I do finish furniture using Bri-Wax alone. My approach is to slather it on generously, rub it in until you get an even effect (particularly if using a colored version.) Then hit the surface with a heat gun to lightly melt the wax and improve penetration. Allow it to cool then buff it out.

If I were doing an ash body I'd consider applying a few coats of an oil finish first, say boiled linseed oil (in this case NOT Tru-oil) cut 50/50 with mineral spirits, one coat a day for 3-5 days, a week to cure, followed by the wax.

As far as grain filling, I'd have concerns about how the filler would look/respond to the oil and/or wax so would definitely do a test on scrap before trying anything on the body.