Oil finish for new necks

[Mark Klossner]

I am about to start finishing some new guitars I am making, and was wondering what peoples thoughts were regarding tru-oil for the necks.  The last two I made were finished with tru-oil and I really like the feel and loved not having to wet sand lacquer.  I didn't pore fill those, but they came out nice after many, many coats of oil.  Now my question... what are your thoughts on putting maybe two coats of oil on the neck, then pore filling (oil based stuff),  let the pore fill set for a week, then follow it with more coats of oil.

[Mark Klossner]

They are mahogany necks, by the way.

[Mike Kolb]

I also like Tru-Oil®, manufactured originally for walnut gunstocks, but does a great job on necks. 

[Mike Kolb]

Hi Mark... 

  Just re-reading my comment above.  Hmmm,  it didn't really address your issue, did it?!   

  I'm no finish expert by a long shot, but I just got done doing a walnut bass body with Tru-Oil and, in reading their instructions, they recommend (if someone's going to fill pores) to do a first coat and let it soak-in to dry.  

  Then apply a wet coat and sand it while wet, creating a slurry to rub in cross-grain, and let that dry. Finally, light-sand and check the pores. If a second "slurry coat" is needed, so be it. 

  To be fair, I didn't do that. My walnut is full of character marks, knots and all manner of inconsistencies and I chose to keep it that way... pores and all.  If you do it, how 'bout some pictures?  Have a ball. 

[Mark Klossner]

Thanks Mike, I might just try that.  Were those instructions on the bottle of tru-oil, or did you find them somewhere else?

[Mike Kolb]

Mark, when I bought the Tru-Oil, it was a little "kit" that had walnut stain, the Tru-Oil, some sort of conditioner, sandpaper, even a couple of paper towels!  But also it had a booklet that laid everything out pretty nicely. 

Here's a scan of the pore-filling info they provided...  (click to enlarge if needed)

[Steve Williams]

Be aware of the possibility of spontaneous combustion.

Robert O'Brien has some good ideas about this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxRndnPEDic

[Mark Klossner]

Thanks Mike.  I'm going to try it.  Hey Steve, I actually know someone whose garage burned down because he left some oily rags from a remodel he was doing.  Luckily, it was a detached garage.  I always throw them in a bucket of water or I throw them outside and let it evaporate.