PitBull TL-1 Liam.

[Brendan]

Back looks great! I guess the grain is one thing we love about wood - no two pieces are the same!

[andrewdosborne]

I think the blue in this tele has come up very well. From what I have seen it's a notoriously difficult colour to nail down. Once you get the finish on and hardware it will look very good.

I build an Alder tele recently and finish kind of came up the same on top and edges.





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[rockmof]

Ok! what miss adventures have I encounter today?

First thanks for the replies and that is a nice looking tele, maybe with the different shades of the same color mine may still look ok.

I looked at and decided to do what I should have done a few days ago. the little ink, that was mixed the same color, I added a few drops of ink. Just changed it a little and I think it is looking "better", will see what it looks like when it has dried until tomorrow.

Let it sit for a few hours then sanded the back with, second hand 240, then did a silly thing. Rubbed my hand over it to see if it was smooth enough. after scrubbing the blue off my hand, I gave the back a coat of tru-oil. No more work on the back just keep putting oil on until I have the guitar to a finished state, However the front may be a different story, tomorrow will tell.

3 photos

1. the front with the darker blue.
2 & 3. the back one on the bench the other in the sun light.

[wokkaboy]

Hey Rick the back looks stunning in the sun. Don't leave it out in the sun thinking it will cure the oil quicker.
Best leave it in a well ventilated room or out of the sun.
I wouldn't worry too much if you can't exactly match the colour of the front compared to the rest.

[wazkelly]

Colour on the back looks great. Gradually adding more ink might just be answer for the front if you are aiming for a bit darker shade.

[rockmof]

At least I think the end is in sight. After a few days with nothing happening and about 4 or 5 coats it is starting to show signs of a finish I will accept.

The biggest mistake was me not doing the front that same as the back, I should have just not tried to make it different but thats the way it is. The back is almost perfect (for me) but the front is a bit pail but the finish is starting to look nice. So, another few coats and I will start to assemble and do the set up.

[wazkelly]

Looking good Rockmof.

I am looking at using ink as a base for staining a tele too and will experiment to see if I can tint Tru Oil as that is what I have been using as a clear top coat on a couple of other builds. Maybe just a small amount of blue tint in a clear would give your top that bit more depth you are chasing.

Has anyone else successfully put a tint in a top coat clear and if so what did you use?

[rockmof]

Yeah wazkelly, I have thought of doing that, and I did try,but I didn't really try all that hard, just a drop or two in a very small amount
of oil and it didn't really work. However that doesn't mean it won't I was trying to not wast any and didn't really give it a fair trial.

I will be interested in finding out your results.

getting itchy fingers and am itching to start the assembly, but, I think another few coats then see what happens.

[wazkelly]

Cheers mate. Just be careful setting up in case it has not had enough curing time.

[rockmof]

Well wazkley, I did it. Tired some tru oil in to my bowl then added some ink, hoping for a better attempt this time.
there was some chemical reaction and it turned thick as I was mixing it , still I got my cloth and wiped it on to the face of the guitar. Not saying it was a failure but After it's set I'm going to need to sand it a littler heavier if it didn't mix it.

Will be interested in hearing how you go with it, it may be ok if it's on bare wood but it wasn't happy (for me) going over the cured coat.

Anyway here is a photo, let me know if you think it's better, to me it is much the same.

Oh and the rag got a nice blue color though. and I was only using one glove so got ink over my left hand I should have known.