Hi all...
I am just seeing this thread now, a few days later, and I have a question, please forgive me if this is slightly off-topic:
Is there a web site or a series of youtube videos, where I can learn the correct technique and procedure for working with Tru-Oil on bare wood for a one-off, experimental home-made instrument (inspired by a RISA Solid 'stick' ukulele)?
The wood I'm talking about is something more of a hardwood like Maple, Walnut or Rosewood from Home Depot or Lowes, if they even have it in a 2"x4" or 1"x3"
What am I going to build?
For this project, there will be no top, back or sides, just a 'stick' with frets installed directly into the wood (no added fretboard), 4 strings, 4 tuners, a zero-fret, bridge, saddle and piezo or pvdf pickup.
This is going to be for a tenor scale 'silent' uke for late night practice with headphones.
I am fully aware that you can buy a pre-made instrument from about a dozen different brands, but they all would require SOME kind of modification for my (other and unusual) needs, and I thought that I just might learn something in the process, and starting with something simpler like this would be inexpensive enough that if I make a mistake it's not too bad to start over, but before I begin, I need to understand more about finishing the wood, which is where I am stuck.
I'm not trying to become a luthier, but have ALWAYS been a DIY-er and want to see what EASY options may exist.
My goal is two-fold:
1) give the wood a nice look and maybe bring out the grain
2) protect the wood a bit from getting blemished by it's environment (water stains, etc..) effectively 'sealing' the pores a little, and I'm not interested in lacquer, polyurethane, shellac or nitro...
If all of this sounds way off, please forgive my ignorance and PLEASE point me in the right direction...
Thanks,
Booli