Everything You Need To Know About How We Do A Transparent Black Finish... Part 1

When it comes to transparent finishes on maple tops we generally go for the old school sunburst. But when our good friend Jim Fuller decided he wanted a transparent black maple top Strat we thought we would give it a try. We had some direction from the good folks at Warmoth and in this video we show you the first phase of this project which is applying the dye and sanding it off. We did this a number of times until we got the level of saturation we wanted.
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[@j-mo2453]

I like this process as it really shows off very subdued or straight wood grain. A colored dye or tinted clear coat almost always a satisfying look to it. Light to dark. Blacks that have a subtle color tint especially cool to me. I think even tinted clear over black painted burst that’s virtuality unnoticeable really plays with light. Very much like ex gfs dyed black hair when she dyed a bright color over it. As soon as she stepped outside into the sun her highlights just beautiful. Then of course she burst into flames and disintegrated because spf 50 doesn’t do shit for soul sucking vampires. Maybe it was the crucifix. Not sure but her hair was fabulous. Lol

[@j-mo2453]

Damn I miss her sometimes. I don’t drink much so not that often. Lol

[@j-mo2453]

Snif… I tear my heart open and I sew myself shut… sobs… my weakness is that I drank too much… chuckles lol

[@oqsy]

I assumed you had to edit over the image because someone from Warmoth got pedantic about their image. Another great video! I dig this channel so much. There are tons of guitar building/finishing channels but few with this much personality. It helps that your guitars always end up looking awesome. The only downside is that you give me more ideas than I have wood, tools, or time to try!

[@rdarchives4645]

Matt's stain work looks better than the Warmoth pic anyhow

[@TexasToastGuitars]

Thanks Oqsy, I'm not sure what happened to that piece of the video that was operator error on my part. I'm glad you enjoy watching the videos and are getting some helpful tips. I try to bring as much levity to these as I can because watching some of the other guys can be a little dry. Those fellas are really smart and great guitar builders too but I try to be as watchable as possible. Maybe I'll get that Discovery Channel show after all hahahaha

[@TexasToastGuitars]

Jim, those guys over at Warmoth make some killer stuff but I'm can't wait to show you what this looks like once we get a little black burst and some more finish going on. It won't be exact but it's going to be slick. You can't even see that part in the horn where I got all rambunctious with the shaper hahahaha

[@rdarchives4645]

I see my Super Start in the background with the Binding setting up, I love this channel

[@TexasToastGuitars]

It means a lot that you do Jim. Yep that was early last week when the binding was still taped up

[@barefootmode]

Seems the black example body just like melted into the black background but the one you are doing looks excellent!! Excellent video!!

[@TexasToastGuitars]

I'm not sure what happened with that but you are right... something got goofed up with that image.

[@richardmyers6092]

That is a very cool way to get the transparent black. I've been trying to get that burst down the past few trys.

[@TexasToastGuitars]

Thanks Richard

[@teleman5678]

Gonna look good. I've started to hate pick guards though.

[@TexasToastGuitars]

You know how it goes... we do about half and half these days

[@AverageJoeHotRodShow]

Love the channel. I’m going to be using this channel when I finish my V.

[@TexasToastGuitars]

Hi Joe, glad to hear you are enjoying the videos be sure to send pics of your Flying V

[@zappa916]

thanks Matt. Keep them coming.Learnt heaps tuning into TTG.

[@TexasToastGuitars]

You got it Zappa, making these videos is kinda my bag and I have no plans to move to Montana soon.

[@74dartman13]

It's gonna be another nice one!👍😎🎸🎶

[@TexasToastGuitars]

Thanks my friend, looking forward to showing you the rest

[@74dartman13]

Texas Toast Guitars yep! Lookin forward to seeing it!☺

[@Terry3Gs]

Great video as always !! :)

[@TexasToastGuitars]

Thanks my friend I'm looking forward to showing y'all what this looks like after sealer and black mixed into some DBC-500

[@kenlee5015]

First my doctor, then you. I'm sure the aliens are next. Can't ya'll keep your fingers away from my behind?

[@Leadguitarman1]

I suspected Matt was an alien...

[@rdarchives4645]

very cool Matt!!!

[@mr.esabsurditiesatrocities1805]

This one is highly relevant to my interests! Question: Playing with the dyes, can you get a closer to a trans black with a grey hue? I’m guessing the purple will dissipate somewhat once the clear is applied.

[@TexasToastGuitars]

Clear certainly changes things up a bit. There were some comments here from a guy who had really nice looking chunk of quilt maple with a great looking trans black he did... now I can't find them. Maybe it's my machine.

[@donvanco3078]

I will throw a couple things at you for conversation sake, it's not a critique of your process by any means, 'cause you do what works for you... 1) When making your dyes - why deal with the horrible / damaging smell of Isopropyl or denatured alcohol? Try making them with Everclear! The "hi-test" stuff (190 proof) isn't available in all states, so not sure about where you are. The 151 proof should work fine (but has a little too much water for my liking). I have friends in Texas so I get the 190 regularly :) 2) I've tried a few anilines and have yet to try one that doesn't "blue up" (or "purple up") on sand-back. I was surprised to see you mix purple here.... My best results have been with Minwax ebony. Yes, I know it's a different class than aniline dyes, but if you _really_ want black, it works exceptionally well (once you get past the fact that it smells like Satan's butthole). And what I have found when it comes to figured wood is to NOT rely solely on the old-school sand-back technique. What I like to do is actually sand to a really high grit - like 800 minimum. This actually puts a bit of a polish on the wood and closes the flat grain to the point where it practically won't take stain at all (this is why Minwax tells you to sand to 220 max) - I then put in the stain and immediately take it back off. I will then burnish it couple times over the next hour with paper towels - color will continue to pull off. When it's fully dry (the downside of Minwax in Florida - three fucking days later) I will hit it with some oil-free 0000 steel wool. Here's a test I did some months ago (when someone was giving me shit about using Minwax on a guitar - like it was some kind of Holy Blasphemy or something) - check it out! i.imgur.com/IyKzjRD.jpg That is ONE COAT of stain and nothing more! It may be darker than what you're after, so, again, just tossing this out there as FYI / unrequested opinion... lol Dunno what you tint your topcoats with (I think you have the Stew-Mac/Woodcraft/TransTint dyes?) - but WD Lockwood makes a nice solvent-soluble black - wdlockwood.com/ I hope you plan to show more of this build - looks like it's going to be a nice piece when finished. Cheers -

[@TexasToastGuitars]

This first step is only the tip of the ice berg there are lots of thing we do with paint later. I hope to get to this in the next few days.

[@TexasToastGuitars]

To be honest, we don't often do this technique. Jim sent over a picture of what he was going for and we said we would try and come close. I think that the more figure you have the better one of the problems with the patchy flame maple top in the video was keeping it even, I think we will be blending in some trans black DBC-500 in the next installment.

[@TexasToastGuitars]

Nice hunk of quilt maple there Don.

[@michaeldecarlo8738]

When you say it was 'prepped already', does that mean it was sanded to 220 grit and all defects removed?

[@TexasToastGuitars]

AS I remember that was it

[@electroKrunch]

Excellent looking dye job!! If some part seem to absorb too much (dark), can it be mellowed with alcohol or something or do you have to sand it out? Thanks again for all the great info & vids!!

[@TexasToastGuitars]

You bet it can. We sanded this one lots of times before we got it how we wanted it.

[@electroKrunch]

@@TexasToastGuitars Ton of work y'all put into them sweet lookin axes bud!!

[@hobo1958]

What size round over bit did you use on the top?

[@TexasToastGuitars]

We use everything from 1/8 to 3/4, I'm not sure which one we used on this project

[@sean4586]

Dyes are so cool! I'm guessing that all dyes are not created equal. Do some dyes fade quickly over time? This may sound weird but I found a piece of maple in the shop where I had taken the kids Easter egg dye and played around with it. Now this was about 3 yrs ago when applied. The colors still looked vibrant but there was no direct sunlight on the wood. Do you think that these dyes could last?

[@TexasToastGuitars]

Hmmm hard to say. I don't have any experience with them. I have had a few issues with certain colors like blue fading faster than others. it would be worth a shot to at least find out what they are made of and test them out. Nothing lasts forever

[@sean4586]

Texas Toast Guitars Thanks Matt for taking your time to answer my my questions. Your channel is fantastic and addicting.

[@kenlee5015]

Hey Sean, just as test, why don't you put some on some scrap, seal it and put out in the sun. That should expedite a few years.

[@TexasToastGuitars]

That's good advice it won't take long, that's for sure.

[@sean4586]

Ken Lee thanks Ken Your 100%right. Especially now in the summer. There is this blue that is so nice on this piece of maple I have. I could see this on a guitar simple but classy! I'll spay this weekend and put it out.

[@Bob_at_OZDiggzguitars]

ahahaha..the Warmoth was very black..."It's like, how much more blacker could this be? And the answer is: None...none more black" ~ Nigel Tuffnel

[@TexasToastGuitars]

A little operator error on my part the actual Warmoth guitar is slightly less black than that... less see through as well hahaha

[@Bob_at_OZDiggzguitars]

That guitar is sooo black (audience) "How black is it?" hehe...That guitar is so black needs glow in the dark inlays and binding just to play it! (snare shot) (thank you thank you, I'll be here all week)

[@edadpops1709]

Oh ouch!! 😬

[@TexasToastGuitars]

I got my technique down... I don't be ticklin or nothin.

[@deandee8082]

frankly you should never do circles or figure 8's always rub on with grain, anything hand ribbed, tape a guitar hallway, do circles, then let dry, tape off and go with grain the other half, see what looks better?

[@TexasToastGuitars]

Thanks for watching

[@bronzesnake7004]

"Rectal exam"? Yuk dude! I hope this isn't a shit stain...stain! Anybody - Does this guitar stink of shit? Bro,you had it coming what with that highly yuknatious rectal exam comment!! Immature, ye fun BS asie - great job, real simple looks sweet!! Jack ~'()'~ Canada Manly!