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Making a CBG look old.... Brown shoe polish? Proane torch? Play a lot and wait 30 years?

Posted by Uncle John on December 3, 2010 at 3:02pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I just strung up a new 4 string build.   Best fret job ever for me.   Good job making it strong. 

 

But I scuffed up the box and the F holes came out at a D level. 

 

Plays good.  Sounds good but a bit quiet unplugged.  I think I want to 'antique' it.  

 

Any tips?   Or photos I shoul look at? 

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Replies

  • howellhudson October 9, 2011 at 9:43pm

    Looks legit to me.



    Uncle John said:

    Here's how it came out. I painted it black and rubbed off the paint. I sanded. I used a candle and smoke. I was going for old... Did I get it?
  • jabes September 24, 2011 at 8:23am
    looks good, just tried the torch method on my latest,then saw this discussion,it doesn't look old but a nice effect,i'll post a pic when finished. the oak neck came out real dark..

    Uncle John said:
    Here's how it came out. I painted it black and rubbed off the paint. I sanded. I used a candle and smoke. I was going for old... Did I get it?
  • John Zant December 6, 2010 at 10:00pm
    you can make a natural stain from wet walnut husks.....they'll also stain the crap out of your hands, so wear gloves unless you want your hands to look like an old dirty hobos for a couple of days....cover the walnuts and husks (that's where the real color is) with water and boil for three to four hours, make sure that you keep them covered with water by adding some every half hour or so, don't let it boil off too much......strain the solids out a couple of times.....i use cheesecloth with an old t-shirt inside of it......then boil the strained fluid down....you want it a little thick (more saturation....works faster).....after you are done reducing the fluid then add a teaspoon of vinegar to the room temperature fluid and stir well.....this inhibits bacteria growth....there you have it....homemade stain/drawing ink....i use it mostly for ink, works great on cream colored paper....it can be reduced a bit to make the stain lighter....some people are allergic to the compounds in walnut (juglone I think)....so make sure if you're selling them you mention the natural walnut stain....good luck!, your picture looks great....
  • Mark Bliss December 6, 2010 at 7:18am
    I saw something yesterday at the craft store of that may be worth some experimentation, it is called "walnut oil." It is an "antiqueing spray" (little pump bottles) and comes in three or four colors or degrees of "darkness."
    I quickly scanned the directions and it appears the intended method is to spray it on and blot or buff off the excess, then finish with a clear coat after a drying period.
  • John McNair December 5, 2010 at 4:19am
    I get the shivers every time I see this twang monster...I want to record with it sooooo bad!....I should shoot myself for not buying it on ebay all those years ago!


    Shane Speal said:

  • Chuck Dubman December 5, 2010 at 3:48am
    Burnish the edges you expect to wear most.
  • Chuck Dubman December 5, 2010 at 3:46am
    Burning is an ancient technique for hardening spear points. Should harden fingerboards
    as well.
  • Shane Speal December 4, 2010 at 5:12pm

  • Uncle John December 4, 2010 at 4:07pm
    Here's how it came out. I painted it black and rubbed off the paint. I sanded. I used a candle and smoke. I was going for old... Did I get it?

    100_2311.jpg

  • Roosterman December 4, 2010 at 1:47pm
    Steel wool and vinegar mix... lol

    Actually I use this all the time. Have a big jar of vinegar and copper mix, and another of vinegar and steel.

    Use the copper mix for plating metal parts, the steel mix for staining your wood black.
This reply was deleted.