chemical_ali Posted December 23, 2003 Report Share Posted December 23, 2003 i was wondering what my options are for finishing maple. i want to finish my newly scalloped neck. i don't want anything fancy, i kinda like finish it used to have. also, what sort of procedure should i follow for applying a finish? btw brian, i got the dremel contour sander!!! no more making do with a 1/4" round file! i'll have pics soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted December 23, 2003 Report Share Posted December 23, 2003 Grab a can of clear lacquer and give it a coat or two then let it set. Before you know it you'll be able to polish it up to a better then factory shine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical_ali Posted December 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2003 would one of these work? which one? is polyurthane the same as lacquer? also... how do i polish it? i'm not familliar with polishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted December 24, 2003 Report Share Posted December 24, 2003 I've used the spar urethane and the fast drying polyurethane, high gloss. They also come in spray cans. There is good and bad with anything you use. The poly makes a very hard, durable coat but will not flex with expansion and contraction of wood joints from temp/humidity changes. It will crack instead. Good side is the poly is UV protective so your finish won't yellow over the years like it can with laquer. Applying laquer requires good ventilation and breathing protection. Both will polish to a nice high gloss. My experience with poly involved several coats and wetsanding up to 1500 grit. Then polishing with Meguiar's Step 2 polish, got an unbelievable "wet" look as a result. It looked like the bar top at my local drinking establishment, . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical_ali Posted December 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2003 for a guitar neck, which would be better? spray on or paint on application? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted December 24, 2003 Report Share Posted December 24, 2003 Either works fine it's just a matter of waiting for it to dry and polishing it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www Posted December 24, 2003 Report Share Posted December 24, 2003 I had very good luck with the MinWax spray polycrylic on my neck. It has not yellowed yet and is very tough. On the other hand, the polyurethane did have a yellow tint (vintage yellow) look to it. I used both of them on my Stratocopy in the GTOM section. The fabric on the guitar was blue and white and now it is a yellowish green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical_ali Posted December 27, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2003 with the spray i'm worried about getting close enough to the frets without lacquering the frets themselves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setch Posted December 27, 2003 Report Share Posted December 27, 2003 You lacquer the board AND frets, then remove the lacquer from the frets - it scrapes right off the metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted December 27, 2003 Report Share Posted December 27, 2003 Or leave it on for that Fender factory look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaper Posted December 27, 2003 Report Share Posted December 27, 2003 While we're on this topic... how easy is a finished maple neck to clean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical_ali Posted December 30, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 are you serious?!?! i how easily does it scrape off of the frets? can i do it with my fingernail? does fender really keep the finish on the frets? how many spray cotes should i use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 Honestly I've spent enough time with an Exacto blade and magifying headset to say yes, Fender oversprays plenty of their necks. Once it is dry if you score the finish at the base of the fret with a clean sharp blade it usually chip's right off the fret with your fingernail so you don't have to worry about scratching up the frets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 I used an 80's Ibanez for a good part of this year when I was away from my US home. That guitar had the typical lacquer finish covering an all maple neck. It really made me miss my rosewood board neck. Now I'm currently working on a Wolfgang neck with a light oil finish and it makes me really want an oil finished maple neck now. It's SO much better feeling than a plastic feeling lacquer type finish. And an oil finish is so easy to do, it's funny. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical_ali Posted December 30, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 before i spray lacquer the whole neck should is it a good idea to put on sanding sealer first? if so how many coats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiem Posted July 23, 2006 Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 (edited) hope its ok for me to post here, i didnt feel like making a new thread on maple finishing when there already is one. how necesary isit to finish a maple fretboard?? i own a custom build guitar, wich has a unfinished maple neck (well its finished with oil, linseedoil i believe, not sure), wich feels great. now ive just started building a tele with a maple neck and maple fretboard... can i finish a maple fretboard with some oil aswell, just like the neck on my other guitar??? the fretboard is flamed maple, would it look better with laque or with oil?? or doesnt it matter alot?? thnx kiem Edited July 23, 2006 by kiem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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