Whitewash/limewash finish?

giggsy

Hey chaps!

Anyone done the above finish? Looking at doing it to a thinline tele but would appreciate any pointers - its a basswood body and maple neck

AlanRatcliffe

I've done blondes (translucent white), but I've never seen a whitewashed or lime-washed guitar - not durable enough for something as hand's on as an instrument. I'd also expect basswood grain to be too subdued to work with any similar finish, even stained and sanded back to try bring out the grain.

giggsy

Thanks Alan, yip, basically a translucent white is what I am after, probably just used the wrong terminology! The grain isn't too prominent, but would a sealer or something (probably the wrong terminology again) bring it out a little before I apply the white finish, then a clear coat to seal it

AlanRatcliffe

Dark grain fillers are the usual approach. But only work with open pore grains like ash and mahogany, and even then they can only work with what's there already. So with a closed pore wood with subdued grain like basswood you won't have any success.

The other method is to stain the entire body dark and then sand it back so only the grain (where the stain penetrates deeper) still shows the stain. Then seal with clear and do your blonde coat over that. I'm not sure how well this will work with your basswood, but it's worth a try, If it doesn't work just put a few coats of white over to make it a solid white.

peterleroux

Preeb over on the TDPRI forum recreates pre-CBS Fender designs with obsessive detail. He documents a white blonde finish in this thread and this one discusses guitar finishing in the 1950s.

Attila

You could use some Potassium Permanganate or Potassium dichromate to fast age the wood if the basswood is to bland.

There is a chemical reaction between the Permanganate and the timber/oils which results in the accelerated oxidation that should darken the grain some what, less messy than stain IMO

examples of Dichromate in action

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=27343

Neon Gecko did a comparison test with both these chemicals a few min ago....

giggsy

Thanks Alan, Peter and Attila - still not sure which direction I'm going to go ??? Starting a new business by the end of the month so work is hectic, will give me plenty of time to think about it!

AlanRatcliffe

As far as using potassium permanganate/dichromate goes, a few points:

1. Results will vary depending on wood - those that have less tannins will be affected less.
2. The results from permanganate are not colour fast and will fade with exposure to sunlight.
3. Dichromate is quite poisonous. Both will stain your fingers dark brown. Use gloves...
3. Permanganate has a tendency to explode/ignite when exposed to organic oils and certain acids (I used to make bombs with the stuff).