ROCKNROLLBRO

Thanks for the tips. I will keep the hair dryer handy. Just one more question. Can I use alcohol dye for the sides, back and transtion areas then use water dye on the veneer top? What I mean is if I start with alcohol do I have to do all the dye in alcohol? I only ask because a buddy of mine says he has some brown alcohol dye and some honey colored water dye lying around in his garage. If I can use them I won't buy any. I know dye is not very expensive but as little as I need why buy it if I don't have to. Thanks again.....Mike....

I've done one veneer project in the past. A few months ago I put a aprox. 1/40" flamed maple veneer top on a strat style body for a friend of mine. I followed instructions that I got online. The veneer job turned out very nice. My friend has not applied any dye or finish to it yet ( he can't make up his mind how he wants it to look ) so I don't know if it wil try to lift or bubble. ( I hope not or I might be pulling out what little hair I have left ). I am confident that I can do a good job applying the veneer. You would be correct to presume I'm referring to alcohol based dye. Sorry bad choice of words on my part. ( Lacquer = Alcohol Stain = Dye) I've refinished one body in the past but that was a soild color. It turned out very nice. I used ReRanch products. This will be my first attempt at dyes and my first attempt at a burst. I've had this Hamer guitar for years. It's not a high end guitar but it is not a cheap one either. It's one of the best playing and sounding guitars that I've ever owned. It's all USA made. I just wanted to give the old girl a face lift. She has been well used but not abused( Road Rash Happens ). The laminate top is a option if I have alot of trouble with the veneer, but I'm not sure if the cost will be justifiable. Thanks for the info....Mike....

The first thing you missed was turning off the caps lock. Don't do it again. As for the stain, alcohol-soluble stains will work as well, use a brown rather than a black as your dark base, and be very careful when sanding back, to make sure you don't sand through the veneer. If you're worried about spoiling the veneer, just use a stronger amber coat for the first dye, sand back a little and go from there. Just do what you feel comfortable with. Sorry people I clicked on the wrong reply box. Lets try this again. The caps lock is off. I will use the dark brown dye to do the base coat. Thanks for the info...Mike... Sorry people I clicked on the wrong reply box. Lets try this again. Yes I have plenty of veneer to practice with. My original question was to help me make a choice, water based or alcohol based dye. Thanks for the info...Mike...

The first thing you missed was turning off the caps lock. Don't do it again. As for the stain, alcohol-soluble stains will work as well, use a brown rather than a black as your dark base, and be very careful when sanding back, to make sure you don't sand through the veneer. If you're worried about spoiling the veneer, just use a stronger amber coat for the first dye, sand back a little and go from there. Just do what you feel comfortable with. Yes I have plenty of veneer left over to practice with. The reason for my original question was to help me make a choice, water based or alcohol based stain. Thanks for the info...Mike....

The caps lock is off. I will use the dark brown then sand back light and go over it with amber. Thanks for the info.....Mike...

I AM PUTTING A VENEER MAPLE QUILT TOP ON A OLD HAMER BODY OF MINE. I WAS HOPING SOMEONE COULD GIVE ME A HEADS UP. I KNOW ABOUT STAINING IT DARK THEN SANDING BACK THEN RESTAINING. I WAS THINKING ABOUT USING WATER BASE STAIN. WILL I GET THE SAME RESULTS IF I USED LAQUER BASE STAIN? WILL IT GET DEEP INTO THE GRAIN LIKE THE WATER BASE STAIN? I WANT THE FINISH COLOR OF THE QUILT TO BE AMBER. I REALLY WANT THE GRAIN TO POP SO I GET A NICE 3D AFFECT. SHOULD I MIX THE AMBER STAIN STRONG FOR MY FIRST COAT OR SHOULD I USE A DARK BROWN OR BLACK TO MAKE THE GRAIN POP? I'M WORRIED THAT THE DARKER STAIN WOULD HAVE ME SANDING HEAVY TO BRING IT DOWN AND IT IS A THIN VENEER. I'M GOING TO DO THIS GUITAR IN A BURST WITH A VERY NARROW DARK TRANSITION LINE ON THE TOP. I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE IT IS AN OLD MAHOGANY BODY AND THE EDGES ARE NOT SHARP AND THERE IS NO BINDING. IF I'M MISSING SOMETHING LET ME KNOW. I WOULD BE THANKFUL FOR ANY HELP.