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Hello,

I am going to build a Stratocaster and want to do a clear stain/tint type of finish. The body wood is Mahogany and I was wondering how much the mahogany darken/change the tint?

Specifically, I am looking at a yellow tint and I was thinking of using Mixol Universal Tints, Canary Yellow, #07 assuming it affects the tone a lot. And, Mixol Universal Tints, Maize Yellow, #06 if it had just a little affect.

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Dean

I don't believe mahogany would work well with a yellow tint. It's a darker wood and the yellow wouldn't really show. Seems like it would be a yellowy brown unattractive piece of wood. I could be wrong so I would encourage you to do some tests on some scrap mahogany before spraying the body. I always test spray and it's saved my butt several times.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Check out these links all yellow on mahogany bodies.

http://rebel-guitars.com/rock-n-roll-re ... tv-yellow/
http://www.vintageandrare.com/product/G ... llow-27078
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/finely-finis ... ost1812682

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Dean

Actually I ran across this link/post. Check out the beautiful Honey Burst in this thread and the back of another guitar in yellow.

http://carvinbbs.com/viewtopic.php?t=27 ... 85b4b7d62a

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Dean

While you can use Mixol for transparent effects I find them rather difficult to use for those type jobs and reserve them for more opaque uses. I typically use Solar-lux dye for truly transparent tints.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

So comparing ColorTint (StewMac), SolarLux (Behlen?), and Mixol

You like the SolarLux? Why do like it compared to the others, what benefits comparatively? I am new to it all so your answer will be very beneficial.

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Dean

I like Solar-lux for staining and transparent tinits because it is a single product that covers many needs of mine right out of the bottle. First is an exceptional dye stain. It light fast and very fade resistant and does not cause any adhesion issues with any finish when used as a stain like some oil stains can. Second it can be used as a universal tint for finish materials. It is compatible with both solvent and waterborne systems and adds not just dye but thinner to the finish material making creating shading toners a breeze.

I also use Mixol quite a bit too. Sometimes in conjunction with the solar-lux and sometimes on it's own. I like the mixol for creating solid colors like black, surf green etc. If used to create a transparent type shader it doesn't have the clarity of a dye like solar-lux or transtint.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Thank you for that explanation. I saw the Solar-Lux & Mixol yesterday when I was at Peachtree Woodworking. So I walked out with a quart of Qualalac Gloss Lacquer, Reducer, Vinyl Sealer, and a pint of the Lemon Yellow tint/dye.

The vinyl sealer is more for my planned acoustic build later this year. I am going to use Timbermate to seal up the grains on this electric build.

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Dean

So here is how part 1 of the mahogany test went after highlighting the grain with black water based stain, just tinting the wood with Solar-Lux Lemon Yellow, then sealing the wood with TimberMate Natural sealer. I sprayed four coats of lacquer, the first two were sanded in between coats, the second two were not and were left glossy.

Next part of the test will be to add the tint to the lacquer and do the other side of the wood and see how that turns out after highlighting the grain with the black stain.

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Dean

I like the look, Dean!
Is your Mahogany S. American or African?
I mixed some amber and lemon yellow and applied it to A. Mahog.
Really liked the golden color.
Dan

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Thank you ! I can't wait to see how the tinted lacquer test will turn out. I have the Warmoth mahogany guitar body. It came in last Thursday.

The sample is Swietenia Macrophylla or South American Mahogany. The web site I bought the sample from calls it Genuine Mahogany.

Unfortunately I don't think they sell it in large enough pieces to make one piece guitars. Might be able to get away with two pieces. Definitely three pieces, but that takes away from getting the mahogany's rich wood grain and you might as well get some other kind of wood. They sell basswood there by the way.


http://www.woodworkerssource.com/index.php

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Dean

Using truly transparent dyes is important for a traditional finish. In my experience, just about any wood with any combination of transparent yellows, reds or browns will look like a normal guitar. Using all transparents (nothing even slightly opaque) allows the grain of the wood to work its magic. Be sure to blow all the sawdust out of the pores before sealing the wood.
A bright transparent yellow on top of a dark brown guitar will add a glow to the final effect, even though it will not be visibly yellow.