Violin re-finishing - truoil ?
Hello again,
I have been given the job of refinishing my granddaughter's violin from bright aqua poly to natural (stained mahogany) brown.
After much labour, I have it 95% back to bare wood. I don't advise doing that job unless you're bored and/or retired !
What looked like 3 hours works was closer to 2 days !
https://i.imgur.com/FKtx2Cjm.jpg
It looks like its a spruce top and bottom and maybe maple sides.
Ive never done a spruce refinish on anything, and this top wood has some pinkish shades through it. But Granddaughter says stained mahogany please !
Ive had a lot of experience refinishing solid body guitars with acrylic lacquers, and a more recent experience with truoil on a build, with good result. But no stain used in that exercise.
I was wondering if I should or could add a truoil compatible stain to the truoil and then apply it in the truoil application way.
Truoil has linseed and I think tung oil in it, and 'dryers' of some type.
Or, given its a cheaper student violin albeit 4/4 size, if there's a better way, eg stain it and spray a clear coat ?
With adding it to truoil (if that's actually possible)
and then applying it by hand rubbing to the bare wood, , I am a bit concerned that the mahogany stain may not come out uniform with those pink shades in the spruce top. The back is more uniform. But maybe it will look good in a different way ?
Id appreciate any guidance please.
regards,
Don