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All of this talk of Oak B+S makes we want to build with it. I have a J-185 size and shape in mind, with an amber/tobacco sunburst on an Red Spruce top. Has anyone put a sunburst on Oak - back or sides or both? I am thinking of a maple neck with the burst on the neck too.

Anybody have a source for a good selection in figured oak?

Ed

It probably would look nice if you could find REALLY white oak. Finding it is another matter. Probably would look best with some rift sawn, would look something like flamed maple. Some quartered has that "comb" figure. Don't know as I'd get the "ray and flake" stuff, that and the sunburst might get pretty busy.
You could try some of that Talarico hardwood's Scottish oak, but I hear Sam wants around $300/set. Frankly, a good lumber yard can have good stuff at 6-8 bucks a board foot. Better yards will let you cut a board as long as you leave 4'+...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Guitar-Luthier- ... 0858748267

I have a nice stock of high grade quartersawn white oak. I post new stock several times a week in my ebay store, or I can select some nice sets for you from my stock.

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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

Not a burst finish per se but I used this technique to blacken oak with a chemical reaction with the tannins in oak. I plan on doing more of these with the oak supply I have and hope to get better at it and accentuate the dark black edges to amber and natural but it's a neat process and I think oak is wonderful to work with.

Could you let me know how you achieved this finish? What dud you used to get the amber tone in the main part of the body and how you get the burst effect on the edge. I'm building an oak body guitar right now I'm looking for some finishing options.

Thanks,

Mick

I'd guess that he sprayed tea at the timber, it reacts with the tannins in the oak turning it almost black, not sure on the amber, could be the natural colour.

Check out his build thread on that little oak parlor. You can read about the finish and make sure you check out the videos to hear how great it sounds. I really like that one!

viewtopic.php?f=10133&t=37566

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Guys, just as an aside (I didn't go back and research this), but I think that people building early arts and craft style furniture achieved the dark oak stain coloring on their work from exposing the wood to ammonia fumes. Hope I didn't just dream this up.

Ammonia fumes are highly toxic...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Yes they did, but as I understand it, you use ammonia that is much stronger than the household stuff. It is very toxic. People do it for small projects by building a small tent around them (outside) and putting the ammonia in. I read a bit about it years ago and decided that doing it safely required more effort than I was willing to devote to it. Though my motivation was more one of curiosity than anything else. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Thanks for the response all - I have looked on a google search and not found any sunburst oak guitars that are done the way I am thinking - I like the small, hand applied sunburst that Gibson was using pre-1930 or so.

RELATED QUESTION:

How about an oak neck? Too heavy? It would be stable.

Thanks

Ed

I don't understand why this needs to be different than finishing any other wood. Fill the pores. Level the filler. Maybe seal with with a thinned coat of shellac, or maybe a clear coat of lacquer. Then burst as per usual. What am I missing here?

I don't think you are missing anything, this thread is just drifting around a bit. JF posted a pic of his oak guitar with a sunburst type finish that demonstrated that sunburst on an oak guitar will look nice. That guitar used a less common method for coloring which generated some talk about techniques that aren't as comment discussed when talking about guitar finish.

Sunbursting oak would be the same as Sunbursting any other wood, you just don't see oak used that much.

As for the neck. I don't have any experience with oak as a neck. I suspect it might be a bit heavier than most necks but people have certainly made many necks with heavier woods. Just plan ahead keeping its weight in mind. I'm sure we'll selected oak would be up to the task physically. There is likely a curly oak neck in my future; I have more plans than shop time. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I think you are absolutely right, not missing anything. I didn't mean to derail the thread but the experience I had working with white oak was interesting enough for me to want to share. The wood has a sort of innate ability for this finishing technique, and so far customers love it

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If you soak a vinegar solution with super fine steel wool for several days you get a solution with the proper chemistry such that it reacts with white oak to turn it black. I tried the house hold ammonia fuming but it was not nearly as good. I used a few water based dyes from stew mack to get the colors the way I wanted and then French Polished the guitar. The process of FP'ing the guitar further blended in the colors with a really neat hand rubbed looking finish - I sound like a marketeer now don't I

As for oak as a neck wood, it works just fine. I'd only use quarter sawn wood though.