Astracaster First Build FS-1

[Simon Barden]

It’s going to come down to whether you are happy with it. There appears to be some colour variation in the photo, but it’s hard to tell what’s in shadow and appears dark that isn’t, and what’s in the light so isn’t as dark as it might be. And the grain pattern can affect the results depending on the viewing angle.

There are three basic paths you can take here. 1. You can leave it as it is, with some slight variation in colour depth and see it as a natural thing. 2. You can try and lighten the darker patches. 3. You can add more stain to darken the lighter patches.

My approach when staining has been the latter one and I’ve added more stain (often a more concentrated stain), on the lighter areas after the initial staining. If that doesn’t work, then it’s definitely the wood itself and there’s not a lot you can do about that.

My method has its drawbacks in that you can end up with a lot darker finish than you intended.

As I have spray equipment, I have the extra option of using tinted lacquers to help even things out. More coats of a tinted lacquer will darken the colour, so you spray a bit more on the lighter areas to get a more uniform colour. But again, this gives a darker finish so may not be what you are looking for.

[Drashkum]

Maybe a little on the left side where the arch begins. If it's a slight blotch it's not much more than natural variation you'd expect to see in the wood. You might be able to get it a bit lighter with careful use of thinner. I probably would not attempt it, not being very good at staining I'd be nervous about making it worse.

It’s going to come down to whether you are happy with it. There appears to be some colour variation in the photo, but it’s hard to tell what’s in shadow and appears dark that isn’t, and what’s in the light so isn’t as dark as it might be. And the grain pattern can affect the results depending on the viewing angle.

There are three basic paths you can take here. 1. You can leave it as it is, with some slight variation in colour depth and see it as a natural thing. 2. You can try and lighten the darker patches. 3. You can add more stain to darken the lighter patches.

My approach when staining has been the latter one and I’ve added more stain (often a more concentrated stain), on the lighter areas after the initial staining. If that doesn’t work, then it’s definitely the wood itself and there’s not a lot you can do about that.

My method has its drawbacks in that you can end up with a lot darker finish than you intended.

As I have spray equipment, I have the extra option of using tinted lacquers to help even things out. More coats of a tinted lacquer will darken the colour, so you spray a bit more on the lighter areas to get a more uniform colour. But again, this gives a darker finish so may not be what you are looking for.

Thank you @fender3x and @Simon Barden for the insights.

I did try to pull out some stains with thinner today. I didn't want to make it darker as the sanding sealer and clearcoat would make it even darker. There are some parts in wood at the back that have taken more stain and look Orangish brown and fewer lighter spots which are yellowish. I think that's the way would would take stain. I think more I do more uneven it would become so i leaving it like this

https://youtube.com/shorts/pTQKOBpRIMQ?feature=share




Now that stain is done for back, should I sand it and then apply a sanding sealer?. I did use a alcohol based stain, so there is no grain raising at all. If i run my hand it feel just smooth as it was before.

I am trying to source a sanding sealer spray which is available here as I fear that regular sanding sealer would pull out the stain more.

https://bannasprays.com/shop/wood-ca...or-polish.html

Or should I use a brush and paint the regular sanding sealer and not use a rag?

After sanding sealer I may start to stain the front veneer. Base coat with light black and the sand and colour stain it

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