Aging white plastic

Chris Leger · July 18th, 2008, 04:56 PM

Figured I'd mention this, because I just got a great result without even really trying...

I'm about the furthest thing from a "relic guy" as one can be. However, there's a time and a place for everything...

Bought a replacement pickguard for my Les Paul BB. The guitar is old, the binding has yellowed, etc. I had a replacement 3-ply pickguard on it that I installed years and years ago, which was incorrect - should be a 5-ply, B/W/B/W/B. So I ordered one.

The white plastic plies on the new PG practically glowed in the dark, compared with the rest of the guitar. So, I did what I've read here so many times, and threw it in a tray with the remainder of this morning's pot of coffee. A couple hours later, no effect at all. So I added some vinegar and a cup of double-strong tea. Hours later, still nothing.

Then I remembered my "Mohawk Kit." It has a bunch of powdered pigments in it for tinting wood finishes. They're soluble in ethyl alchohol.

So, a drop of vodka, a dash of powdered pigment (picked out a sort of a brownish-yellow,) a paper towel, two minutes work, and I was done. The nice thing about this stuff is it works at just the right speed for my impatient nature. Rub it on... not dark enough? Grind a bit more in... let it sit for about a minute to dry, and then buff off the residue. The result is so perfect, I don't think it could be improved upon. It is so easy to manage the depth of color, etc.

I'm not sure, but I bet you can find these pigments in your local (good) hardware/woodworking-supply store. Maybe even Lowes, for all I know. They're made by Mohawk/Behlen.

stratofied · July 18th, 2008, 09:40 PM

Pics Please..

crowden · July 18th, 2008, 10:16 PM

After some more recent discussion about darkening a too white neck, I bought a couple cans of Kiwi paste shoe polish (brown and tan). I have a junky First Act guitar I got at a garage sale for $25 that I do horrible experiments on that I don't want to risk on any good parts. I was going to see about this neck darkening thing my self...

I was just reading your post when

I have a white pickguard that was shrunk doing the bake at 180 degrees in coffee trick so I grabbed that and an old rag and rubbed on some tan. It put an unmistakable slight yellow tint on the guard. I really didn't like the color though but it did look like it was old and naturally yellowed.

Next, I rubbed on some of the brown... instant parchment, the guard looks positively ancient.

The trouble is, and this could be because of the steel wool rubbing and baking I did to it the first time, it's slightly blotchy. BUT it is has an absolutely convincing ancient look to it.

Too bad I'm not a relicer (?) tho because this info isn't very useful to me at the present time. I'm still looking for a method that gives a nice even coloring. I'll have to try those dyes maybe in a vodka bath or somethin.

Chris Leger · July 18th, 2008, 10:40 PM

Denatured alchohol is cheaper. I used vodka because I had some on hand.

Also, photos won't be much good in this case. We're talkign about 2 thin interior plies in a pickguard.

crowden · July 19th, 2008, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Leger

Denatured alchohol is cheaper. I used vodka because I had some on hand.

Well, that's no fun. They put poison in that stuff so you can't avoid paying the liquor tax. Maybe some Wild Turkey to aid in the coloration...

Vizcaster · July 19th, 2008, 12:16 PM

Wild Turkey aids in the perception, maybe the creation, not the coloration...

Anyway, were the Mohawk stains pigment or dye? Dye I understand will soak in and stay when the alcohol dries off, but wouldn't pigments usually need some sort of binder or finish in order to stay on there?

I experimented with a white Fender knob and found that aniline dye (diluted in water, but you could use alcohol) works well. Coffee and tea had no effect on whatever vinyl Fender's OE manufacturer is using these days. First I rounded the corners and wore off one edge a bit with sandpaper and buffed it on a grinding wheel with a muslin buff and some compound to simulate wear, then stained it. Added some junk from gel woodworking stain to simulate accumulated dirt in the grooves. Just for fun because I don't believe in relic-ing...

boris bubbanov · July 19th, 2008, 02:09 PM

Great idea.

I've been placing various white parts in a well protected, shady window but I am concerned about shrinkage and warpage.

July 18th, 2008, 04:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Chris Leger Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Hampshire Age: 43 Posts: 520 2 Photos	Aging white plastic Figured I'd mention this, because I just got a great result without even really trying... I'm about the furthest thing from a "relic guy" as one can be. However, there's a time and a place for everything... Bought a replacement pickguard for my Les Paul BB. The guitar is old, the binding has yellowed, etc. I had a replacement 3-ply pickguard on it that I installed years and years ago, which was incorrect - should be a 5-ply, B/W/B/W/B. So I ordered one. The white plastic plies on the new PG practically glowed in the dark, compared with the rest of the guitar. So, I did what I've read here so many times, and threw it in a tray with the remainder of this morning's pot of coffee. A couple hours later, no effect at all. So I added some vinegar and a cup of double-strong tea. Hours later, still nothing. Then I remembered my "Mohawk Kit." It has a bunch of powdered pigments in it for tinting wood finishes. They're soluble in ethyl alchohol. So, a drop of vodka, a dash of powdered pigment (picked out a sort of a brownish-yellow,) a paper towel, two minutes work, and I was done. The nice thing about this stuff is it works at just the right speed for my impatient nature. Rub it on... not dark enough? Grind a bit more in... let it sit for about a minute to dry, and then buff off the residue. The result is so perfect, I don't think it could be improved upon. It is so easy to manage the depth of color, etc. I'm not sure, but I bet you can find these pigments in your local (good) hardware/woodworking-supply store. Maybe even Lowes, for all I know. They're made by Mohawk/Behlen. __________________ I'll do the thinnin' around here...

July 18th, 2008, 10:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
crowden Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Age: 58 Posts: 170	After some more recent discussion about darkening a too white neck, I bought a couple cans of Kiwi paste shoe polish (brown and tan). I have a junky First Act guitar I got at a garage sale for $25 that I do horrible experiments on that I don't want to risk on any good parts. I was going to see about this neck darkening thing my self... I was just reading your post when I have a white pickguard that was shrunk doing the bake at 180 degrees in coffee trick so I grabbed that and an old rag and rubbed on some tan. It put an unmistakable slight yellow tint on the guard. I really didn't like the color though but it did look like it was old and naturally yellowed. Next, I rubbed on some of the brown... instant parchment, the guard looks positively ancient. The trouble is, and this could be because of the steel wool rubbing and baking I did to it the first time, it's slightly blotchy. BUT it is has an absolutely convincing ancient look to it. Too bad I'm not a relicer (?) tho because this info isn't very useful to me at the present time. I'm still looking for a method that gives a nice even coloring. I'll have to try those dyes maybe in a vodka bath or somethin. __________________ "The guitar's not all that expensive either, when you compare it to gettin' a tooth pulled or something." - Merle Haggard

July 18th, 2008, 10:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Chris Leger Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Hampshire Age: 43 Posts: 520 2 Photos	Denatured alchohol is cheaper. I used vodka because I had some on hand. Also, photos won't be much good in this case. We're talkign about 2 thin interior plies in a pickguard. __________________ I'll do the thinnin' around here...

July 19th, 2008, 12:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
Vizcaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Glen Head, NY Posts: 711	Wild Turkey aids in the perception, maybe the creation, not the coloration... Anyway, were the Mohawk stains pigment or dye? Dye I understand will soak in and stay when the alcohol dries off, but wouldn't pigments usually need some sort of binder or finish in order to stay on there? I experimented with a white Fender knob and found that aniline dye (diluted in water, but you could use alcohol) works well. Coffee and tea had no effect on whatever vinyl Fender's OE manufacturer is using these days. First I rounded the corners and wore off one edge a bit with sandpaper and buffed it on a grinding wheel with a muslin buff and some compound to simulate wear, then stained it. Added some junk from gel woodworking stain to simulate accumulated dirt in the grooves. Just for fun because I don't believe in relic-ing... __________________ "Why don't you just make 10 louder, and make 10 be the top number, and make that a little louder?"

July 19th, 2008, 02:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 8,579	Great idea. I've been placing various white parts in a well protected, shady window but I am concerned about shrinkage and warpage. __________________ Bubban0v

July 18th, 2008, 09:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
stratofied TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 15	Pics Please..