Finishing A Flame Neck

[Strat-o-file]

I've read some of the posts here, and some things on the "re-ranch" site but two things I'm not to clear on;

1.) The neck I have has some great flame to it, it's a Warmoth neck with their sealer on it. I would like to stain it slightly vintge amber to get the flame to "pop". Should I remove the Warmoth sealer, and if so, what's the best product / method to do so?

2.) To get the flame to "pop" I've read that I need to stain it a little darker than I want, sand it back so that the color only remains in the grain, and re-stain the color I really want. Question; should I just use the amber I have in a heavier strength for the coat to sand back, or should I use a brown, or dark brown, to make the flames more pronounced?

Any guidance would be appreciated!

Thanks,

[Daniel Sorbera]

Basicly you want too sand it down too bare wood, than stain with black or dark brown. Than sand back and apply the amber. Than just go on with the rest of the finishing process. Thers a bunch of diffrent ways but this is probally the easiest.

[Strat-o-file]

Thanks Godin SD for your reply.

I gather from your comment of "sand to bare wood" that the sealer that Warmoth uses would prevent the stain from penetrating consistantly?

[Daniel Sorbera]

If warmoth put a sealer on the wood than the stain won't go into the wood. It's that simple I'm not sure if you can put stain on top of sealer but I know that it won't produce as good results as if you sand bare.

[Strat-o-file]

Thanks again!

One more newbie question if you don't mind; I can't really "see" the sealer, but have been told it there. Would it make the job any easier / more complete removeal if I use some sort of a striper first? Something like "Homer Forbey's" or do you guys use something different?

Thanks!

[Doc]

Before you jump in with anything try staining it and see what happens. If the stain takes great. If it doesn't get some stripper. Formby's is good for this one because it's one of the weakest on the market and it's really hard to screw up with it. Do remember to read the instructiolns and see if you need to neutralize it before staining and finishing.

[jer7440]

You may also want to practice your staining or dyeing before you have a go at that neck. Just to make sure you get the effect you are looking for.

[Strat-o-file]

I thought of that; using a piece of scrap wood, but I don't have a piece that has some flame or figure to it to practice on. I figured that if it didn't turn out so well, I could always strip it and start over.