What was sanding schedule prior to french polishing? I had alot of trouble sanding back the nibs on my current Englemann topped classical.
I initilally sanded to 600 grit.
When the nibs appeared I tried to level it all (I think I had to use 400 to get rid of them, then used 600 & 800).
When the nibs appeared again I panicked & posted the 'Shellac Help" post.
After that I didn't bother with sanding back anymore apart from a light going with 800 & 1200 before the final coat.
I'm still not happy with the edges in the lower bout area where the grain is widest.
French polishing with hard shellac.....where there any modifications to your FP technique?
I've never french polished before, so the only modifications I made were those you suggested in my 'Shellac Help" post.
I'm not sure that what I did was strictly french polishing as I pore filled with epoxy (everywhere except the top).
Then just diluted the Hard Shellac 50/50 and applied with the pad (about the size of a 50c piece).
Re-charged with shellac to the top of wadding, with 1 drop of Paraffin Oil on the pad face.
Settled into a routine of applying 1 coat a day for 3 days, then leave for 2 days.
(Each coat would take about an hour for each guitar body)
I did find I had to always make a new pad after the 2 days wait (the hard shellac seemed to gel).
...graceful curve over the whole top surface.I would love to know how you did that so nicely.
Thanks John, it's one of the features I really like looking at too! (and running my fingers over it, and... no...better not go there
)
Did it the hard way using a sanding stick to get the initial curve.
Then 'tucked in' some areas with a Dremil & little sanding drum.
Tidied up again with the sanding stick and sand paper wrapped around my finger.
Sanded free hand up to 600 & buffed with a cotton cloth tied around a rubber sanding disc mounted on a battery drill clamped in a bench vise
Thanks for everyone's comments.
As with any praise from you lot, I'm humbled.
Had a local artist, Warren H Williams, have a go on it last week.
(He's a Golden Guitar winner so to me he has cred!)
After about an hour of playing I got his comment.
"Bloody beautiful mate, bloody beautiful."
) for anything with figured Blackwood, think it has to be my favourite looking timber & you've certainly got a good example of it there!
