Author Topic: Question about oil finishes on alembics (Read 81 times)

jake · « **on:** November 25, 2006, 04:07:05 PM »

Hi I was wondering if Mica or anyone else had any information about what kind of oil alembic uses for their natural oil finishes and the procedure they follow to apply it. thanks a lot

lg71 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2006, 04:48:53 PM »

I think they use olive oil, but I heard that on some occasion they used cannabis (although this is confidential)!

jake · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2006, 09:21:56 PM »

not quite...i know that they use or at least once used a combination of watco oil and linseed oil, I was just curious as to how many coats and in what order. I'm refinishing an Ibanez musician series guitar and am probably going to go this route so I figured i'd see if i could hear it from the pros first

mica · « **Reply #3 on:** November 27, 2006, 04:53:31 PM »

We don't use the linseed oil anymore. After having some old instruments visit us for rework, it tends to remain tacky even years later. At the endgrain, little beads of the stuff formed, making a rough surface. This was easy enough to dissolve with more oil without disturbing the patina, but the slight tack to the touch is a bit annoying.

We are using a polymerized oil finish now. I don't know the brand off the top of my head, but on this old page you can see the first coat of oil being applied.