Subtly Ageing a Tru-Oil / Wudtone Neck

jaymenon

I have a Wudtone finished Strat body that looks a little aged.

Also a lovely newish AllParts neck that I wish to stain amber and then finish with Tru-Oil (or Wudtone) for consistency.

Once finished would you experts give me some pointers please on how to age the neck in a subtle manner to match the body...?

https://i.imgur.com/j0PfpmK.jpg

mrkb

I just rub a bit of pencil lead dust over the neck before tru oiling, just adds a bit of dirty looking can be built up to taste. I tried the wirewool and vinegar mix (over tea) method and I think looked way too dark and a bit crap, ended up sanding most of it off.

jaymenon

Thanks Mark - that's a great idea...

jaymenon

in order to allow the stain to ‘take’

Do I need to remove all of the oil down to bare wood?

Or is that enough to remove the superficial gloss layer? i.e. just break up the surface...?

Sarge

Yep. Stain won't take on anything but bare wood

WezV

If it's a subtle ageing, you can tint tru-oil with spirit based stains

jaymenon

Tru Oil that has already been applied and has cured?

WezV

No, you would mix it and apply over, but it will give the look of aged lacquer 

Gonna be much harder to strip fully for a direct stain

jaymenon

I’m sorry WezV if my question wasn’t clear.

So I would mix stain & tru oil and apply the mixture over the already dried and cured tru oil on the neck?

WezV

Yes, although I would sand the existing tru-oil to key it first 

Do a few light tinted costs, then do a few of pure tru-oil to seal it all in.

WezV

Antique pine gives a nice amberish tint, but you might want to mix it with something a bit darker if it seems too yellow

jaymenon

Okay guys - tru oil removed.

I'm going to give it a wipe down with 100% acetone to ensure that I remove all invisible traces of the tru oil finish - and then commence staining

jaymenon

Okay guys...

I’ve applied 4 coats of Wudtone Aged Vintage Yellow stain - and it’s turning a nice brown colour (which I must admit I prefer to yellow).

The next step would be to apply the colourless top coat.

if I wanted to create some subtle ageing, would I do it now, before applying the top coat?  And how would i do that?

Raw:
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/i17l2Zm.jpg)

After 4 coats of Aged Vintage Yellow Stain
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/VCOYB0o.jpg)