Refinishing a 4003S in oil?

[cassius987]

How hard would it be (or expensive) to refinish a 4003S Mapelglo in an oil finish?

The 4003S MG is sort of my idyllic RIC look now that the skunk stripe is back. Would really love to get one but I've gotten addicted to the oil finish on my 4003AC. (I realize the 4003SW is an option but it would be great to get maple body wings for the more classic look.)

[Korladis]

I assume you'd have to strip the finish. Paul W. could probably describe that process in more detail.

Once the old finish was stripped though, I would guess applying oil would not be as involved a process as reapplying a regular finish.

[jps]

Yep. Totally strip the finish off and wipe on the oil of your choice (although some may be better than others for this).

[syncop8r]

I refinished my 4003s with Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil gunstock oil over 20 years ago. It's still going strong, the only issue is it's a little dirty where my hand has been resting. Some years ago I sanded that area back a little and applied more oil which fixed it for a while. You may not be as dirty as me...

[cassius987]

Taking the finish off the fingerboard is probably harder than removing from other places, I would imagine?

[syncop8r]

Taking the finish off the fingerboard is probably harder than removing from other places, I would imagine?

From (distant) memory, yes, but not overly difficult.

I recall digging white filler or something out of the fretboard grain and filling with something that was a better colour match.

[doctorwho]

I refinished my 4003s with Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil gunstock oil over 20 years ago. It's still going strong, the only issue is it's a little dirty where my hand has been resting. Some years ago I sanded that area back a little and applied more oil which fixed it for a while. You may not be as dirty as me...

Hmmm ... I had a 650D that was heavily soiled when I bought it, but I bought some pure tung oil (not diluted or admixed) and, using it and a Scotch-Brite pad per the RIC owner's manual instructions, got the finish looking like new. There might be a difference in how some oils absorb things in contact with them. Just a FWIW.