ColorTone Cherry Finish?

[Simon Barden]

It may also depend on the quality of the binding material used (different factories, different binding suppliers), or maybe because I'd already scraped the binding once. But there are countless builds on here with stain in the binding cracks. And once it's in there, it's not coming out! Better safe than sorry.

[Simon Barden]

Also, the ES-1 binding is thicker white/black/white black layered binding, whilst McCreed's PRS-style binding looks to be a much thinner single ply binding, so was probably far more flexible and went on without any major/deep stress cracks when bent. Glenwilliam's build is another ES-1, so I'd expect it to be similar to mine.

[GregLane]

I have had no trouble with metho in colour tone on my LP or ES. I found that water brings up too much grain

[Simon Barden]

I'd prefer to assume it will, rather than it won't. Raised grain can be dealt with, it really isn't much of a problem, but stained cracked binding is a lot harder, and painting it really is about the only solution that I found worked.

[McCreed]

Also, the ES-1 binding is thicker white/black/white black layered binding, whilst McCreed's PRS-style binding looks to be a much thinner single ply binding, so was probably far more flexible and went on without any major/deep stress cracks when bent.

That is a good point and reasonable consideration. It would be an interesting experiment if one had some scraps of the different bindings.

...and painting it really is about the only solution that I found worked.

Probably sounds crazy, but have you ever tried bleach on a cotton bud? (cotton swab)
I have no idea if it would react poorly on the plastic, but maybe not.

[Simon Barden]

No I haven't. Plastic should be OK though with it.

[GregLane]

I agree with McCreed
I think the prediluted is already at the 30:1. That ratio is suggested in the StewMac doco.
I have found it too light and use about 15:1(metho). I used 8:1 and 1:1 covering trying to cover glue marks and scratches on my ES.
You could use lots of coats at 30:1 but I have been unable to achieve my required depth of colour.
It is expensive but "she who must be obeyed" will tell you to stop building guitars before you use a bottle.
I think TransTint is the same as ColorTone with emphasis on the "think".

[Simon Barden]

Pre-diluting to that extent is an easy way for the seller to maximise their profit by simply adding water, and without a detailed chemical analysis it would be impossible to say whether it was a true 30:1 mix (actually the normal 1oz to 1 quart would be a 32:1 mix), and may well be diluted a lot more in reality. StuMac don't give duff advice, so the standard mix should be fine for obtaining a good stained finish.

But what works well on light wood won't be as effective on a darker wood, so I'd always look to buy something more concentrated that can be mixed as necessary to suit the situation.

[McCreed]

I'll also add that when I switched to the U-Beaut timber dye (also water based) I used it undiluted to achieve the result you see on that TLA. U-Beaut has a 7-colour kit that cost me $39 (7 x 50ml bottles) I used less than 25ml to do that body.

Not sure what part of Brissie you're in, but there is a Woodturners Supply shop at The Gap. That's where I got mine.
They are truly old school and their website is horrible, but they're a nice old couple that run it.

[glenwilliam]

I'll also add that when I switched to the U-Beaut timber dye (also water based) I used it undiluted to achieve the result you see on that TLA. U-Beaut has a 7-colour kit that cost me $39 (7 x 50ml bottles) I used less than 25ml to do that body.

Not sure what part of Brissie you're in, but there is a Woodturners Supply shop at The Gap. That's where I got mine.
They are truly old school and their website is horrible, but they're a nice old couple that run it.

Thanks for the tip! I do like the colour of your TLA - not as bright as the ColorTone cherry so maybe I can achieve that more vintage-look with the U-beaut dyes.. either way, worth the investment to check them out for that price. I'm in Coorparoo so will venture north!