DWard

How fine of a grit do you sand to before oiling?  This is with a few swipes at 320. 400? 600?

Here are the test finishes I did. 

I was actually planning to leave the cocobolo natural and just sand it down but you’ve given me something think about. I was thinking about a thin layer of epoxy on the back of the pickguard to prevent cracking and be a barrier between wood types but I have not considered a surface finish.

It’s coming along.  My tru oil was delivered yesterday, I’ll post my test strips when I get them finished for anybody with similar questions. Tung oil, tung w/ tru oil top coat, linseed, polyx and tru oil by itself.

Good eye SR. I have a ton of these monochrome and two tone type images that I downloaded for V-bit engraving and inlaying. Mostly they are tattoo designs but they work great in artcam. I was trying to find something that complimented the curves on the guitar body.

Maybe I should do a Odysseus series with a cyclops strat and a Telemachus tele

I ordered some tung oil and osmo Polyx-oil and sanded some test strips over the weekend. This is the inlay I’m considering. Not sure how to get a clean line on the carved shoulder part, might have to do a little bit of a natural burst or tobacco burst finish right up to the edge, but I like the black contrast there

Thanks for the links Bizman, and all for the comments. I have some scrap to test finishes on, I’ll try out a couple of options while I’m working on inlays.

Any advice on finish to walnut? I see a lot of recommendations for tung oil. This has a walnut body and neck with a cocobolo fretboard. I have ordered a cocobolo Vaneer to cut a batwing pickguard out of to match the fretboard.