J. Mark Lane
Feb-22-2004, 6:34pm
I don't usually venture into these parts... way out of my element. (I did build a half-dozen all-wood banjos once, though... and I used to be a cabinetmaker <g>.)
Anyway, I have a pretty decent flat-top instrument that needs a little repair work on the top, and I was thinking of sanding off the old finish and then dying the top with one of the dyes offered by StewMac. (Cherry Red, in case you were wondering.) Does anyone have any thoughts on the question of whether that would alter the tone or volume of the instrument? I assume if you use this as a regular dye, you put it on the bare wood, pretty heavily, until it is the color you want, then apply the finish over it. Right? Wouldn't it fill the pours of the wood a bit?
Also... I was thinking of using a water-based finish on the top after it was done. Any thoughts on that? I have some water-based stuff I got from Home Depot.
Thanks.
Mark
Anyway, I have a pretty decent flat-top instrument that needs a little repair work on the top, and I was thinking of sanding off the old finish and then dying the top with one of the dyes offered by StewMac. (Cherry Red, in case you were wondering.) Does anyone have any thoughts on the question of whether that would alter the tone or volume of the instrument? I assume if you use this as a regular dye, you put it on the bare wood, pretty heavily, until it is the color you want, then apply the finish over it. Right? Wouldn't it fill the pours of the wood a bit?
Also... I was thinking of using a water-based finish on the top after it was done. Any thoughts on that? I have some water-based stuff I got from Home Depot.
Thanks.
Mark