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Gah.
I know I’ve probably just not done something right....
I’m doing a tru oil finish. All going just fine. Until I get to my stacked heel block. Most of it soaks up just fine, but there are random sections that don’t appear to be taking the oil at all. It looks like there’s nothing on it.
What causes this on the end grain like that?
Did I somehow burnish the surface so that it can’t soak it in?
Can I remedy it?
It also happens on the top of my headstock.
Sorry for the noob question, but I appreciate any helpful advise on this.
Thanks.
B


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Did you seal with shellac prior to the tru-oil? I do an initial coat of shellac, pore fill, and two more coats leveled between each, then start the tru-oil. Glue contamination on the end grain is a possibility. I'm far from an expert on finishes, so hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in.

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Brad Hall
Mystic Dawg Guitars

Most likely you are looking at end grain that not only is taking the finish, but drinking it up. Keep applying the truoil to those areas until the "drinking straws" of the end grain are full.

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I would suspect glue.

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Pat

I did go back to sanding w 150 and worked the area back from there...
The spot vanished.
Glue... I guess.... but I don’t remember getting glue there


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I'm with Pat. Maybe when the heel cap went on?

Since you mentioned the top of the headstock... I have found that I have to be patient and religious about slowly moving up through the grits when sanding endgrain in those areas. I go from 100, 120, 150, 180, 220 and take my time with each. The end grain is tough stuff so it takes exponentially longer than sanding anywhere else.

Glad you got it sorted with the glue suggestion.

Brad


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Bingo. Pretty obvious when you look at the locations. Random chance that it is right by the heel cap glue line? Two finger touches with glue - one full print, the second on the edge. What kind of glue was used?

Andy

It was fish.
Learning by my mistakes


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My guess, from several prior experiences, would also be glue residue. I had good luck with sanding back and checking frequently by wiping the spot with naphtha until it wetted out uniformly. Then back to finishing.
Kent