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Here's the French polish progress on my padauk guitar to 7/12... Boggs


Boggs

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First is a pic of the prototype in its new storage home... a used (but just like new) Johnson case I got t The Music Store for $35! It's like it was MADE for this guitar!

 

http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/boggs.com/Guitarproject/Boggs_DCP_2457.jpg

 

Next is the 3rd grain fill treatment (This stuff is hard! My hands are killing me!)

 

http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/boggs.com/Guitarproject/Boggs_DCP_2458.jpg

 

After that, it was starting the actual French polish finish... Tim was extremely helpful as always describing the technique, but I still have a lot to learn about getting the amounts of each liquid in the pad correct. I have also found that the texture of the cover will make a big difference. I am going to get some denser linen for the polish cover today before going further.

 

http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/boggs.com/Guitarproject/Boggs_DCP_2460.jpg

 

Here is a bit of the result of Saturday's polish marathon... I would like to have mine completed by the end of this coming weekend. Light IS at the end of the tunnel now! Boggs

 

http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/boggs.com/Guitarproject/Boggs_DCP_2461.jpg

 

http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/boggs.com/Guitarproject/Boggs_DCP_2462.jpg

Check out my Rock Beach Guitars page showing guitars I have built and repaired... http://www.rockbeachguitars.com
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(whistle) :cool: Snazzy! Nice finish so far, Boggs-Daddy! Interesting choice there, French-Polish. I don't know a lot about that, other than the labor-intensive tediousness and the embarrassing traditional name for the applicating cloth...

 

So, why'd you decide to go with French-Polish? What were the pros 'n' cons?

 

How would you say it feels to the touch, as opposed to lacquer and poly and such? I've only played a very few French-Polished guitars, and they were old and worn a bit, anyways, so I wouldn't know a new one's attributes.

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

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Looks great so far.

 

Advantages of french polish: beautiful if done correctly; probably the prettiest of all the available finishing techniques. Also, though tedious, requires the least amount of equipment. Once everything is level, there's no "sanding back"...you just keep applying until you're tired of doing so and/or have the requisite depth. And, maybe most important, it's absolutely non toxic...if you use grain alcohol to cut the shellac, you could actually drink the stuff(some guys even use olive oil for the tampon).

 

Cons: VERY time consuming in a production environment. Not as sturdy as polyurethane...but approaches the durability of lacquer. The main downfall of French polish is the lack of protection if alcohol is spilled on the surface(this includes strong beer!!)...will fog/melt the finish in an instant. But it is relatively durable regarding water or sweat.

 

Sunbursting takes forever to master...and even a simple body like Boggs' will require hours of elbow grease to get right.

 

Keep after it Boggs, you may have a future in the classical guitar business!!

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Thanks, guys... and especially for the encouragement, Dave! Coming from a true luthier (which I do not consider myself in any way, shape, manner, or form), your support goes a long way! HEY...Wait just a doggone minute!!! You call my body SIMPLE?!! CHECK OUT THOSE ARMS, MAN!!!!!! Don't MAKE me come over there!!!! :mad::D:P Boggs
Check out my Rock Beach Guitars page showing guitars I have built and repaired... http://www.rockbeachguitars.com
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I finally got the process really figured out today and the shine just EXPLODED!!! The photos you see here look like a matte finish compared to how it looks now!!!!! I will wait until it is together before taking the next shots as that is when I will have access to a digital camera again... It should be done by the end of this weekend for sure!!! Boggs
Check out my Rock Beach Guitars page showing guitars I have built and repaired... http://www.rockbeachguitars.com
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Originally posted by Boggs:

I finally got the process really figured out today and the shine just EXPLODED!!! The photos you see here look like a matte finish compared to how it looks now!!!!! I will wait until it is together before taking the next shots as that is when I will have access to a digital camera again... It should be done by the end of this weekend for sure!!! Boggs

Yeah, I was wondering when that would come out. Though the pics are great I just knew that the wood you selected could be very shiny. Don't get me wrong either Boggsy, I love that glow that the beast has to this point.

 

Our Joint

 

"When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it." The Duke...

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Originally posted by daklander:

Originally posted by Boggs:

I finally got the process really figured out today and the shine just EXPLODED!!! The photos you see here look like a matte finish compared to how it looks now!!!!! I will wait until it is together before taking the next shots as that is when I will have access to a digital camera again... It should be done by the end of this weekend for sure!!! Boggs

Yeah, I was wondering when that would come out. Though the pics are great I just knew that the wood you selected could be very shiny. Don't get me wrong either Boggsy, I love that glow that the beast has to this point.
What's to "get wrong," Dak? Your comments are very positive. The first couple of coats I did using a cut T-shirt material as the cover applicator cloth and I found that this material is too thick and coarse to really do the job which is why I went and got the 200TPI cotton linen. That just made a WORLD of difference. Also, the pad I used underneath the cover was too "wet" with shellac and alcohol on the first 2 coats causing swirls and a bit of a haze. Also, on the applications pictured, I used lemon oil for the lubricant and when I applied at home with the good cover, I also changed to extra virgin olive oil for the lubricant and I found I liked the results and ease of application a lot better. Live and learn! Boggs
Check out my Rock Beach Guitars page showing guitars I have built and repaired... http://www.rockbeachguitars.com
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