Quilted Highlights under Dingotone

[GregLane]

Hi DingoBase

I am about to embark on my first build and getting buried in finishing options from both this forum and the web generally.

I have a LP-1MQ and would like to highlight the quilting. I am shying away from black timbermate because and the general darkening of the cap and the sanding issue on the thin veneer.

I like the idea of staining the cap and then wiping of after 30 mins to stain the lows and cleaning off the highs. It appears that this cannot be done with Dingotone so the question is:

"Can is use a water based stain a little darker that Karijini Red, wiped on and off a couple of time to darken the grain, and then use Karijini Red and the Dingotone process to finish?"

Second Question

Will the wax finish on the cap fill any grain in the same way as applying and sanding off coats of Tru-Oil?

Third Question if am allowed this many

Should I fill the grain with a mahogany color Timbermate on the mahogany body before applying the Karijini Red Dingotone.

Greg

[dingobass]

You should be ok to use a slurry of timbermate to pop the grain and fill the pores before sanding, same with the Mahogany.
When you sand the cap, it is best to sand only with 320/400 grit just to smooth off the timbermate and remove any fine scratches.
The above should answer q.3

[GregLane]

Thanks for your quick response Dingobass

What colour Timbermate are you recommending I should do the cap with? Is the Timbermate to be used to create the highlight? I think black will be a bit contrasty and I think I would prefer a red a bit darker than the Karijini Red.

Are you suggesting that I do not use a water based stain under the Dingotone process.

Thanks Greg

[Andy40]

Hi Greg,

Subject to what DB says as he is an expert. When making the timbermate slurry you can mix the timbermate with the stain coat of KArajini red. Therefore, if you use a darker timbermate such as mahogany, the KArijini red will make it darker.

However,

Each stain coat you apply will always soak into the grain more than the ..."non grainy" bits and therefore will always be darker and somewhat pop the grain.

Zandit75's LP-1S is a perfect example by only using dingotone colourless it still brought out the grain and flame in the spalted cap..here it is when he got it .... http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...?t=5745&page=4

and here it is after the colourless Dingotone

http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...t=5745&page=14

I guess what i am saying is, you may achieve the results with just the stain and without trying to pop it...

[dingobass]

Wot Andy sed

[Andy40]

First time I've ever got a DB whatever I sed!!!!!!!

Cheers to that

[Zandit75]

Hi Greg,

Subject to what DB says as he is an expert. When making the timbermate slurry you can mix the timbermate with the stain coat of KArajini red. Therefore, if you use a darker timbermate such as mahogany, the KArijini red will make it darker.

However,

Each stain coat you apply will always soak into the grain more than the ..."non grainy" bits and therefore will always be darker and somewhat pop the grain.

Zandit75's LP-1S is a perfect example by only using dingotone colourless it still brought out the grain and flame in the spalted cap..here it is when he got it .... http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...?t=5745&page=4

and here it is after the colourless Dingotone

http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...t=5745&page=14

I guess what i am saying is, you may achieve the results with just the stain and without trying to pop it...

Thanks for the plug Andy!
Greg, my guitar has not been touched on the top by any grain filler. I sanded it very, very lightly to about 400 grit, and then applied the colourless stain. I only used one coat of the base stain, then 2 or three intensifier coats. I'm onto about the 4th top coat now.




I hope this helps in your decision making!

[GregLane]

Thanks Andy. I have read through Zandit75's diary and it sure is great job. I will be interested to see whether he needs to or is going fill the cap.

However I am still at a loss as to whether to/or when to and ifso how to fill the cap.

Your first option of mixing the timbermate with the Karijini stain sounds a bit messy, particularly if I needed a second coat. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Your second option which I would call the bog standard DT option I have considered and prepared to do. I was expecting that the cap would pop nicely just with DT but thought perhaps a bit of a boost of the grain might be helpful. However Dingobass has made no mention of filling in his videos either with Timbermate, wax or Tru-oil. The cap filling is what is causing me to go round and round in circles.

From memory you filled your LP at the Tru-Oil stage. If I go bog standard DT then I would do a wax finish, but Tru-Oil is a real option as in your case.

[GregLane]

Thanks Z
I was writing my reply when you sent yours and I didn't see it.

By the sound of it you are not expecting to have to fill your cap after the last coat. Do you intend to wax?

[GregLane]

Hi Z

I should have added that as we all agree the guitar is looking magnificent.

Am I the first see her with four coats? I am honoured.