Wood for cab

[mclmk8d]

I picked up this wood today form a local place...3/4" Padauk. One is 4ft, the other is 3ft, and both are 9 3/8" wide. I also got some small yellowwood panels for the front fascias; a nice contrast to the padauk.

[imghttp:810:583]http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7141/img1014vc.jpg[/img][img:810:674]http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7088/img1015z.jpg[/img]

I am researching the best method to preserve the color as long as possible as padauk with darken...so far, I've read about spar varnish, using Danish oil while sanding, and Ceramithane. The spar varnish and Ceramithane both ave UV protectants.
Later this week, I am also picking up a 10ft board of soft curly maple...almost 11" wide and 13/16th" thick..this board has beautiful figuring...I'll probably use this for Diana, my Rocket clone.

[Allynmey]

you could do this...

[IMG:640:480]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l92/a ... C09725.jpg[/img]

[dano-rator]

Padauk really is something else - but in my experience, unfortunately, you're just postponing the inevitable. I think a really good quality, marine grade spar varnish is pretty good at preserving the color... for a time.

If you can keep it out of the sun as much as possible, that will help you the most. But with time, I've found padauk always oxidizes - closer and closer to brown, first dark than lightening after that.

I built this guitar, oh, over two years ago I know that much. It's padauk strips and ash, and a hodge podge of assorted parts - a real work-in-progress, project-never-quite-finished, always changing sort of thing. The color has definitely darkened, and I know it's only a matter of time, but I still like the color.

[rawnster]

Sweet! It reminds me of one of my basses. Bubinga wood.

[IMG:640:770]http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb15 ... lose-1.jpg[/img]

[mclmk8d]

I know the darkening is inevitable...Nice guitars and nice cab. Is that one of Larry's cabs?

[Distortion]

I know the darkening is inevitable...Nice guitars and nice cab. Is that one of Larry's cabs?

Yes it is..

[mclmk8d]

I thought so...it looks like one of your works of art! I pm'd you regarding cabs

[Allynmey]

It is indeed! Larry is an artist!

[Structo]

Man beautiful wood on those boards, cab and bass!

I love exotic woods.

Some day I want to build some nice cabs.....

[CapnCrunch]

Padauk is a beautiful wood once it turns its' final shade of brown. In the furniture realm there is school of thought that what we make is meant to be touched so that it can be fully experienced. This is the primary reason that Sam Maloof finshed every one of his incredible chairs with an oil blend that he mixed himself. Part of the beauty of wood is the feel. Spar varnish is essentially plastic. Heavy built up finishes, which make sense in a marine environment feel like plastic. They separate you from the wood itself. If you're not going to use this head regularly on your sailboat, then I'd encourage you to use a finish that is less "plastic". Oil or lacquer or shellac can be waxed and rubbed by hand and the resultant finish is far more beautiful and pleasing to touch then any heavy built up finish.

This is just my prejudice, but I'd never put polyurethane or spar varnish on boards that pretty. Accept the fact that they are going to turn brown and run with it. They'll still make a beautiful cab.

[mclmk8d]

I like your philosophy and had been originally thinking tung oil and wax. Any suggestions on brands?

[kec]

My favorite finish is natural Watco followed by laquer or sometimes wax.

But, on Padauk I find that Watco darkens it too much - and it does look too muddy. I actually like the orangeish color. I did these speakers with just Deft satin laquer...

[img:480:640]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/ ... wifty2.jpg[/img]

[img:640:480]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/ ... wifty1.jpg[/img]

These are a few years old and seem to be holding the original color.

[CapnCrunch]

I'm a fan of Deft satin Lacquer also. You can buy the spray cans or you can buy the gallon cans of Deft "brushing lacquer" and spray that if you have an HVLP or other sprayer. Don't let the warning that you should not spray it fool you. They put that on the can to get around the CRAZY enviro-nazi California requirements. Because of this, Deft "brushing Lacquer" is one of the last decent lacquers left for spraying. The Deft "brushing lacquer" is better then the stuff in the spray cans, but the spray cans are o.k. if you don't have a sprayer.

The key is to meticulously prepare your wood. Any marks (including sander marks) dents or imperfections are going to stand out, so do your work before you spray. Clean the wood with a tack cloth, don't just blow it off with air. Then put on as many coats as you want. Don't be shy with it, but don't put it on so heavy it runs (practice on a scrap piece first) I find about a half dozen coats is minimum, but rarely put on more then eight. Don't worry about sanding in between coats. After your last coat has dried for a couple of days, apply a coat of good paste wax with some 0000 steel wool. Scrub the wax on vigorously with the steel wool. After it dries (15 minutes or so) wipe it off with a soft cotton rag. It will be as smooth as a babies butt. This is a trick I learned from a high end custom furniture maker here. It is one of the coolest looking and feeling finishes I've ever seen or touched.

[Structo]

Hey Cap'n,
I often wondered how a satin finish could be achieved since usually it needs to be wet sanded unless there is no orange peel.
I know my guitar building friends have tried it out of spray cans (because we don't own spray rigs) but after it's sanded smooth it will polish up just like gloss lacquer if you buff it.
The flattening agents in flat or satin lacquer like to be left alone but I can't spray it smooth enough for that.

I'll have to try the steel wool and wax trick.

Just from when I have used Tru Oil on necks, (I love the feel of it) I use the 0000 wool to smooth it but it tends to leave small scratches behind, which I then burnish with a piece of denim to smooth it out.

And, I also agreement with your statement about the brush on Deft.
It's just a way around the regulations.

A lot of guys like the Watco and Minwax nitro lacquers for guitars as well.

[mclmk8d]

Delft sounds like what I want. I am not of fan of glossy, but always loved the satin look and feel of wood (and I remember my son's baby butt...he's 19 now!). I'll check it out.
Serge