i need some help gang - Colby Bass

shadowcastaz · April 09, 2011, 06:37:36 AM

'go with the force young skydoktor"

Pilgrim · April 09, 2011, 08:26:00 AM

Quote from: drbassman on April 08, 2011, 08:22:42 PM
It is amazing how diverse our tastes are here! We share a lot of things, but we rarely can agree on aesthetics.

Ain't it true??? I'm constantly amazed that there are so many T-bird fans here, considering the diverse tastes in equipment.

drbassman · April 09, 2011, 11:53:57 AM

OK, I'm on my way back to the shop with my camera. I have decided that ash is officially the last wood I'll ever use on a bass!!! Actually, it's not that bad, but man is it hard to sand! No wonder they make baseball bats out of it.

The real issue is it won't take my walnut stain for beans. It soaks into the grain and just sits on top of the rest of the wood. Pictures in a few minutes! ASH IS A BITCH!!! In the first pic you can see the plain sanded ash. The second is with the DARK walnut stain soaking into the grain and not doing anything to the rest of the wood!

I'm thinking that it might be best to grain fill the entire bass (I have to do that anyway) and clear coat it. staining the ash is not going to end on a happy note I fear.

drbassman · April 09, 2011, 12:14:16 PM

The roundovers went well today (at least something did)! All cut and sanded.

dadagoboi · April 09, 2011, 12:49:22 PM

What kind of stain are you using? Aniline dye type stain works much better than oil base on ash. If it's difficult to sand you're dealing with northern ash. Swamp ash is very soft, similar to soft pines like white and sugar.

Bats are made from northern ash, basses generally swamp ash.

drbassman · April 09, 2011, 12:54:26 PM

Quote from: dadagoboi on April 09, 2011, 12:49:22 PM
What kind of stain are you using? Aniline dye type stain works much better than oil base on ash. If it's difficult to sand you're dealing with northern ash. Swamp ash is very soft, similar to soft pines like white and sugar.

Bats are made from northern ash, basses generally swamp ash.

It may be the dye, as you say. I'll give that some thought. As for this ash, I wouldn't be afraid to stand in the batter's box and take a few pitches with this baby!

shadowcastaz · April 09, 2011, 01:08:50 PM

The 1st builds I ever did was 2 tele thinlines out of ash. I did them in a golden/natural. Ill have to ask the guy I made it for how it looks. Ive made furniture & picture frames from it. I have not worked with it for a while

dadagoboi · April 09, 2011, 01:35:45 PM

BTW, all those 2 and 3 tone sunburst Fenders were done completely with sprayed toner, not stain. In fact almost all 'stained' wood instrument production finishes are toner.

Lightyear · April 09, 2011, 02:05:27 PM

Here you go Doc: http://www.homesteadfinishingproducts.com/htdocs/TransTint.htm

This is the liquid but it comes as powder as well. Not only can you mix this with water and alcohol but you can mix it with lacquer thinner and other solvents to make your toners and such. Woodcraft carries both the liquid and powder forms.

drbassman · April 09, 2011, 03:01:53 PM

Quote from: Lightyear on April 09, 2011, 02:05:27 PM
Here you go Doc: http://www.homesteadfinishingproducts.com/htdocs/TransTint.htm

This is the liquid but it comes as powder as well. Not only can you mix this with water and alcohol but you can mix it with lacquer thinner and other solvents to make your toners and such. Woodcraft carries both the liquid and powder forms.

I've got some of that in dark brown that I use for tinting my filler. Which is the better medium to mix it with?

dadagoboi · April 09, 2011, 03:13:25 PM

I'm guessing water is easier to work with. I use this stuff, it can also be used to tone lacquer. I mix the colors I need now from red, blue, yellow and black but I used to have gallons of about 8 colors when I had the furniture biz.

http://www.mohawk-finishing.com/catalog_browse.asp?ictNbr=178

Lightyear · April 09, 2011, 03:13:35 PM

Water raises the grain but alcohol dries faster. I would read up on their website and experiment a bit. I seem to recall that they suggest water to start with as it's a bit more forgiving.

drbassman · April 09, 2011, 07:25:46 PM

Thanks guys! The tint was the trick. Here's the tinted ash. Tomorrow we'll do some tinted grain filling!

sniper · April 09, 2011, 07:39:20 PM

i am impressed, that Ash grain is looking beautiful doc. thanks.

drbassman · April 09, 2011, 08:01:57 PM

Quote from: sniper on April 09, 2011, 07:39:20 PM
i am impressed, that Ash grain is looking beautiful doc. thanks.

I'm pleased with it. I like the look much better than natural. I've been thinking about the maple and I was wondering how it would look with the slightest tint to it. I might try a little on a scrap I have tomorrow.