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Anyone tried it yet? I'm considering using it on a current build but wanted to check in to see if anyone has any experiences or wisdom they could share.

I recall a recent thread in which Alan Carruth shared some initial impressions. I would love to hear from Alan if he has any updates.

I have some on-hand and will soon try it......but nothing to report at the moment.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

I tried it earlier and my impatience would not tolerate the 8 - 10 hour dry times between coats for a complete guitar and my inexperience could not get it to NOT run on vertical surfaces during that dry time.

I'm now testing it with a wipe on schedule for a simplified finish on some new guitars and really like what I'm seeing.

What I can tell you is that it flows and levels very well, dries very very hard and has a very nice gloss finish. Sorry no real long term results to report

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Thanks guys.

Larry, thanks for sharing your experience. Have you buffed it yet? If so, what kind of gloss did you get? Also, what are you thinning with and by how much for wiping? That's something I had thought about too but not sure what to thin it with aside from their proprietary citrus based solvent.

Hey Charlie,

I haven't buffed it and I just thinned it about 50/50 with paint thinner as an experiment. Don'[t know how wise that is from a chemical standpoint but it came out really nice for the look I was after. I'm looking into alternatives to a super high gloss finish but I would bet the 500 would also finish to a super high gloss as well. They also have a wipe on varnish but haven't tried it yet.

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Thanks for the info, Larry. I posed the question about thinning U500 to Mary Goderwis at Sutherland Welles via e-mail and got the below response. Sounds like you are using the right thinner.

That's great to know Charlie - saved me some research.

You didn't say Charlie - do you actually have some on hand? Or just thinking about buying some?

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I do have a quart and have done some very limited experimenting with it. I like it so far. It's easy to work with, levels nicely and seems to cure pretty hard compared to other varnishes I have played with. I haven't tried thinning it yet but I plan to do some more work with it over the coming week or so. I don't have spray equipment so I'll be brushing or padding it on. I'll report back.

A student volunteered to try it on his guitar (I get to re-do it if it doesn't work!). All the finish is on, and he's in the process of sanding and rubbing back. Being in a sort of intermediate stage it's hard to say. It goes on well, and levels nicely, so I didn't see any need to thin it out. It does dry hard, with a slightly 'eggshell' finish, which may be due to the use of tung oil in the formula. I think it will rub back to a good shine, but, as I say, I can't be sure yet. There are some very slight witness lines, but I think those will polish out too.

Thanks for chiming in, Alan. Did the student brush or pad it on? Also, may I ask roughly how many coats were applied?

Really appreciate the info.

It was brushed, right out of the can. I think it has seven coats.

I am a dealer for all Sutherland Welles products. I have used the Uralkyd 500 on quite a few guitars, I love it. It can be either brushed or sprayed, it levels really well, dries hard as a rock, and buffs out to mirror shine. You cant beat it. Here is a link to my ebay store listing for it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Guitar-Luthier- ... 106wt_1161

If you were to call sutherland welles to order some, they would send you to me anyhow

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Guitar Maker and Purveyor of the World's Finest Tonewoods
http://www.aaronhixguitars.com/
http://stores.ebay.com/A-Hix-Tonewood-a ... r-Supplies

You can actually make a wiping varnish, or what is known as a "short oil" by mixing 3 parts Uralkyd 500 with 1 part Polymerized tung oil. This is a nice, easy to apply finish as well.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Guitar-Luthier- ... 432wt_1161

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Guitar Maker and Purveyor of the World's Finest Tonewoods
http://www.aaronhixguitars.com/
http://stores.ebay.com/A-Hix-Tonewood-a ... r-Supplies

I've got both products and didn't like the way the Tung Oil 'soaked in' to the wood and its 24 hour dry time. It seemed to deaden the wood just slightly (VERY subjective observation of course) and didn't dry nearly as hard as the 500.

I did NOT try to mix the two as advised above for a wipe on Aaron and will certainly do so. Any reason to think that adding the Tung Oil will not also slow the dry time vs mineral spirits?

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Thank You and Best To All