Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Burnt bass guitar

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Expert: - 10/13/2010


Question
I have a Guild bass guitar that was burned in a house fire. The body survived quite well.  The headstock got it the worst, although the tuning pegs seem to work at first testing. My thought is to clean it and then sand it down to the bare wood. I plan to use baking soda to get rid of the smokey smell. Assuming the wood has indeed survived, I'll put a new fret board on it, replace the headstock veneer and then refinish it.  My question is, What procedure do you recommend in treating the wood with such as Danish oil, or lemon oil, or tongue oil?  

Answer
Hey Mike sorry to hear about your Guild....any wood that's been burned has undergone damage at the cellular level, and you may find that you can't get down to new wood again, without removing most of it to get there.....I'm assuming you're asking about the final finish, and one way to cut down the lingering smell, and produce a tough, professional looking finish, is to seal it with a surface finish,(lacquer, catalyzed lacquer, Urethane, etc.) and not use a penetrating finish (unless you want the flatter, more opened grain look and feel of an oil finish, then I would suggest Waterlox, a modified Tung oil Varnish finish). Almost all older guitars are lacquered, newer ones use catalyzed urethanes, polyesters,Conversion varnishes, and other high tech finishes, except the fretboards which are usually finished with an oil finish like Waterlox, Watco, etc. Lemon oil is not a finish, it's just glorified Mineral oil, non curing, something you definitely DON'T want to put on it, as it will inhibit adhesion of anything else. If you're not familiar with StewMac.com, I suggest you poke around there for tips, supplies, and definitely visit the "trade secrets" archive and the "Books and Video" section......a GREAT resource for your quest....I'm here to help should you need more guidance- regards- Greg

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies.html?gclid=CLHNmt2J0KQCFdR65QodzR...

http://www.waterlox.com/products-item/waterlox-original-penetrating-tung-oil-flo...

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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