How do I best protect this wood finish?

[slothfurnace]

Hey folks.

I am just about done with this practice amp, and I was hoping to get some wisdom out of the forum. I need a protective, glossy coating on this quilted maple, but something easier to apply than the epoxy resin bar top coating they sold me at the wood store. :confused

Build log - http://www.nonentity.com/New/Main/Projects/PracticeAmp.htm

The wood is a fine piece of quilted Maple, with several coats of High Gloss Tung oil. I got the speaker grille cloth from the ol Internet. The bottom case cover is the back of an old Harddrive.
The amp turns on when you plug in the 1/4 guitar cord. This was possible by using a stereo jack, and using the unused other channel lug to complete the ground back to the battery.
The LED light intensifies with the amp (strum harder for brighter light). This also allows me to use the light as a tuner, as bad harmonics between strings will cause the light to shimmer, and in-tune strings will be a solid light.

Gain is the right knob, volume is the left knob, and surprisingly, this lil fella sounds pretty good! There's a headphone jack that cuts power to the speaker when it's engaged, so I can practice quietly.

Anyways, if someone can suggest a good product to give it a nice hard glossy finish, I'd appreciate it!

Take care, all!

 

[Snoballz]

Sorry, I can't answer your question. I just had to say that amp is beautiful. :love

 

[MaulWalker]

I refinish a lot of furntiture. Tung oil is a finish. You can add more coats to get a higher gloss. I am afraid if you want to use any other finish, you will need to remove the tung oil first.

 

[slothfurnace]

Sorry, I can't answer your question. I just had to say that amp is beautiful. :love

Wow, thanks!!

I refinish a lot of furntiture. Tung oil is a finish. You can add more coats to get a higher gloss. I am afraid if you want to use any other finish, you will need to remove the tung oil first.

Oh, ok, I can probably add some more coats, then. I was just wondering if I needed something like an enamel or some kind of hard non chippable coating to encapsulate the entire thing. Just trying to keep the scratches down if I can!

 

[MaulWalker]

Just trying to keep the scratches down if I can!

The nice thing about tung oil is that you can add more coats to cover up scratches. Scratches on polyurethane, enamel, etc. are much more difficult to repair and sometime require refinishing.

 

[slothfurnace]

The nice thing about tung oil is that you can add more coats to cover up scratches. Scratches on polyurethane, enamel, etc. are much more difficult to repair and sometime require refinishing.

So is there a good way to buff that kind of finish into a slick glossy shine?

I mean, what would you suggest as a polishing method?

 

[MaulWalker]

So is there a good way to buff that kind of finish into a slick glossy shine?

I mean, what would you suggest as a polishing method?

Typically, I just keep adding coats of tung oil until I get the level of shine I want. I've put up to 20 coats on. Now it never will look like a gym floor (or bar top.) You can always put wax on once the tung oil has dried.

 

[slothfurnace]

Typically, I just keep adding coats of tung oil until I get the level of shine I want. I've put up to 20 coats on. Now it never will look like a gym floor (or bar top.) You can always put wax on once the tung oil has dried.

Oh, ok, I'll try that. Thanks!

Also,
Added a couple custom machined knobs for my amp this weekend...

Found some appropriate aluminum rod and decided to knurl and dish it.

I haven't decided if I am going to keep it that way, I kind of liked the look of the old black knobs. But I wanted something a little more custom, and I like the feel of the metal knobs better.

As always, the steps I took to make them are on the page.. http://www.nonentity.com/New/Main/Projects/PracticeAmp.htm