first guitar build

[Marc Dutko]

Hello everyone, I am building my first kit guitar a Martin 000 is coming out quite nicely. Body is all done, bound sanded and scraped with 220 grit. Its Mahogany with spruce top, cedar neck rosewood fretboard. Im posting here since I will be using Tru Oil for the finish. I have read all the posts, watched countless videos and just have some questions that I know have been answered in other posts, but I often find some of it confusing as there are so many different opinions and techniques. I think I have the basics covered and will practice of scrap but just looking for a little input. The guitar is coming out so nicely I dont want the finishing process to mess it up. My questions are as follows:
How many coats should I plan on applying? Im not looking for super high gloss more of a satin look
Should I finish the body and neck separately or glue it up and then finish? I have seen it done both ways
Should I finish the fretboard? Or just use the lemon oil fretboard conditioner I use on my other guitars?
What grit should I sand everything to before applying the first coat?

Thanks in advance, you guys are the best when it comes to advice

[Tim Benware]

Q. How many coats should I plan on applying?
A. As many coats as it take to get your desired shine, any extra coats just adds to the thickness and strength of the finish.


Q. Should I finish the body and neck separately or glue it up and then finish?
A. I finish mine separately, makes it easier if it needs to be disassembled for repair.


Q. Should I finish the fretboard?
A. NO. But I do finish the sides of the FB and just use mineral oil fretboard on the FB.

Q. What grit should I sand everything to before applying the first coat?
A. Tru-Oil likes a smooth surface so I sand to 2000 grit (some may say that's over-kill).

Dave Bagwill may want to chime in here he's got some great experience with TO.

[Dave Bagwill]

What Tim said! :-)
Please ask any questions you have as you go along.

[Marc Dutko]

Thanks guys I appreciate the feedback....to further complicate things if i do the pore filler trick with 50/50 tru oil and mineral spirits what grit should I use....I have read something like 220 sanding it wet to create the slurry....and then do I take it to the 2000 before finishing? Also what about between coats of tru oil? Thanks again

[Tim Benware]

Thanks guys I appreciate the feedback....to further complicate things if i do the pore filler trick with 50/50 tru oil and mineral spirits what grit should I use....I have read something like 220 sanding it wet to create the slurry....and then do I take it to the 2000 before finishing? Also what about between coats of tru oil? Thanks again

I do 2 sandings for pore filling, the first with 150 and the second with 220. Allow it to dry completely between sandings as the paper will tend to clogg a little. Then I start with 220 and continue up the grits. As I get higher it takes less sanding to smooth things out.

I don't do much between coats, sometimes I use a 3M grey pad to knock off the nibs. After my final coat I use 0000 steel wool or 3M white pad and then buff to my desired shine ( I usually like it more satiny on the neck).

[Lonnie B]

Is it a real no no to finish the fretboard? The reason I ask is I'm almost ready to finish the baritone Ukelele and it has a purpleheart fretboard. Which some folks are allergic to. I thought if I finished it that would seal it away from her.

[Tim Benware]

Is it a real no no to finish the fretboard? The reason I ask is I'm almost ready to finish the baritone Ukelele and it has a purpleheart fretboard. Which some folks are allergic to. I thought if I finished it that would seal it away from her.

Some people finish the FB but I don't know how durable TO would be for that, might get looking ugly quick, I"m not sure. I just prefer mine unfinished.