Resurrecting Old Mandolins, Part 3

Looking for instruments I could use in historical reenactments, I picked up a 120-year-oldish bowl-back mandolin and tried to clean it up and get it into playable condition. While I was waiting for polish to set, etc., I started working on a basket-case A-style mandolin. So the series goes back and forth between the two. In this chapter, I mostly work on the A-style, trying to get a dark vintage-looking finish. I do have a brief comparison of the sound of the two, however.

[@sharongornic7418]

Loved your performance and presentation! Thank you!

[@paulracemusic]

Thanks!

[@robertshorthill6836]

I have used Watco Danish for several furniture projects. If I can't get the darkness I want, I will try to blend another oil color with my base. You could have mixed a bit of ebony with your dark walnut. Staining with Watco would not be my first choice for a mandolin. A lot of people (luthiers) would try Febings leather die, which is an alcohol solvent and easy to "feather" out or darken, as needed. In 2019 I made a blue octave electric mandolin using a blue leather die that I think looked quite stunning. The Watco would probably be very nice as a color with the poly over the color.

[@paulracemusic]

Robert, sorry I just saw this. I wouldn't use this again on this sort of project, but the products I was used to using have been discontinued, and I thought I'd try it. The leather dye is a good suggestion.

[@paulracemusic]

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