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Hi. Looking to do a transparent finish. Can someone tell me the difference between this...
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Colors,_tints,_and_stains/ColorTone_Liquid_Stains.html

...and this.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2005522/16594/Mixol-Tint-Blue-09-20-mL.aspx

Also, is there an appreciable difference between this lacquer...

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Finishes_and_solvents/Behlen_Nitrocellulose_Stringed_Instrument_Lacquers/Behlen_Nitrocellulose_Stringed_Instrument_Lacquer.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=7494

...and this lacquer.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2005277/10715/Behlen-Luthier%27s-Lacquer-Quart.aspx

Thanks.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Hi Mike,
Here is my limited amateur experience:
I've used Behlen stringed instrument lacquer on three guitars and I am happy with it. Dried fast, polished well. It has a slight amber tint, a least in liquid form. I don't know the difference in Master and Regular. Behlens website is not much help.
I used Transtint dye added to the lacquer and the color quickly faded. I did not have that problem with the dye applied directly to the wood.
Funny I did not read the directions, but it is for interior use only. It received indirect sunlight while drying so I guess that caused the fading.
I got some +2.50 reading glasses last week: I should be able to read directions now.

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

The can of Behlen Stringed Instrument Laquer sitting on the shelf at my local Woodcraft looks like the same label as the Stew-mac version. I believe the label is just different.

I know nothing about the dyes.

If you have the StewMac finishing book and are planning on using their "recipes", I would use their dyes.

Or, you can be brave and experiment!

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Thanks, Dan. I'm assuming that the transtint is the same thing as the Colortone tints from StewMac? From what I can find online, the mixol are pigments, the transtints are dyes.
I'm leaning toward the Mixol at this point. Sure would appreciate any more info anyone can give me.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

For me, it's less like brave and more like stupid, lol. Thanks for your help.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Dyes penetrate deeper into the woods surface .Finishing is a subject unto itself.I suggest some books from your library e.g. Flexner , dresdner and others. There are so many ways and methods of finishing that it can boggle a newbies mind. Find a simple finish you feel comfortable using an practice on scrap.

Mixol pigments work better for opaque finishes, they do not make good looking transparent shaders. I use behlins solar-lux to make my translucent type finishes. The lacquer is the same product.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Thanks a lot for all the help and advice. Good info to know.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.