have you ever considered selling guitars on the web? its a website where people make and sell things through the website. just a thought. i watched this whole series in one sitting its great. im getting ready to make my first guitar i just need a few more tools.
Steve, thanks for taking the time and trouble of sharing your learning experiences with us. I cetainly helps to know that it is possible to learn the dark art from scratch. I find it very therapeutic finishing a guitar like this. You feel as if you are rubbing "life" into it. Spraying it with laquer is OK but you don't get the same feeling. How do you cope with the binding? That is where I get the most problems.
LMI makes or sells a glass bead filler that uses microscopic glass and epoxy to fill up dem pesky pores, it's non toxic and is sandable in 24 hours or less! 3 colors available, why am I plugging LMI fro free? Oh it's because they are genuinely nice, nice people!
you might know this but if there's white pummace in the pores use Watco oil base stain or any stain that you can use with your type of finish they have dark or light walnut it should help..
oh I looked at the option of using epoxy as a seal, followed by a lacquer finish. When I saw how simple the french polish method was, I felt horrible for trying the "faster" way...
Thanks. I have this sort of love/hate relationship with FP and when I was researching it I found lots of conflicting advice out there. I certainly encourage you to try different ideas out. My results have been good, but not stellar. Enjoy.
@bobloblaw1701 I noticed a few times that you mentioned the "problems with pumice" leaving white spots in the deeper parts of the pores of the wood. Howz about using a colored wood filler that maches the wood? Set some of the filler out to thoroughly dry, then grind it up into a fine powder, (morter and pestal.. ex wife's coffee grinder? :) and then use it as you did the pumice?
I've put FP on a few guitars now- if you're using pumice for pore filling, you can mix in some artist's dry pigment with the pumice to avoid the 'white pore syndrome'.
Try using CA ( super glue) on rosewood, I haven't tried other woods yet. Just put a few drops on then wipe with a tissue. Do it outside as the fumes are bad. Then sand it and you will be amazed at the finish. I may take 2 goes for deep pores.
well, I'm a man, I don't know about The Man. I continue to wrestle with french polishing. Since I shot these videos, I've tried various approaches and I'm still not really satisfied. I still like it better than spraying though. Do some internet searches, there are lots of opinions out there.
Well, for the most part, that's what the french polish is supposed to do. In theory, the pumice acts as an abrasive and creates this slurry of shellac, pumice and wood dust. It is time consuming, but it's kind of therapeutic - gives you time to contimplate the wonders of the universe and how tired your right tricep is getting...
have you ever considered selling guitars on the web? its a website where people make and sell things through the website. just a thought. i watched this whole series in one sitting its great. im getting ready to make my first guitar i just need a few more tools.
lambo831 7 months ago
whey you are wet sanding why do you use olive oil? water works great and theres no messy clean up
lucasmorter 1 year ago
Can you put die in the lacqure?
ShadowSam09 1 year ago
Could you use an epoxy grain filler instead of the pumice, then finish it with FP? That sounds like it'd be easier
PotentialFreedom 1 year ago
does the olive oil not get absorbed somewhat into the wood and deaden the sound a bit ?
tazio2 2 years ago
Steve, thanks for taking the time and trouble of sharing your learning experiences with us. I cetainly helps to know that it is possible to learn the dark art from scratch. I find it very therapeutic finishing a guitar like this. You feel as if you are rubbing "life" into it. Spraying it with laquer is OK but you don't get the same feeling. How do you cope with the binding? That is where I get the most problems.
mike789166 2 years ago
LMI makes or sells a glass bead filler that uses microscopic glass and epoxy to fill up dem pesky pores, it's non toxic and is sandable in 24 hours or less! 3 colors available, why am I plugging LMI fro free? Oh it's because they are genuinely nice, nice people!
TexasSizzle 2 years ago
you might know this but if there's white pummace in the pores use Watco oil base stain or any stain that you can use with your type of finish they have dark or light walnut it should help..
haynalo808 3 years ago
ugh, I feel terrible. My first guitar sounds wonderful, but I tried to seal it with clear epoxy. This is so much simpler! And it looks great!
thanks steve
jazzpsalti 3 years ago
Why do you feel terrible? Was the epoxy a bad idea or did you have other troubles? Can you be more specific? Thanks.
TexasSizzle 2 years ago
oh I looked at the option of using epoxy as a seal, followed by a lacquer finish. When I saw how simple the french polish method was, I felt horrible for trying the "faster" way...
jazzpsalti 2 years ago
i just saw a video of a person using drywall compound with a dye as a filler, any comments??
ldenorio 3 years ago
I see someone has been watching Ron's video on french polish.
Why not use Mineral oil, like baby oil? it is a mineral oil with a light fragrance.
Keep up the good work!!!!
copycatproduction 3 years ago
Thanks. I have this sort of love/hate relationship with FP and when I was researching it I found lots of conflicting advice out there. I certainly encourage you to try different ideas out. My results have been good, but not stellar. Enjoy.
Steve
bobloblaw1701 3 years ago
@bobloblaw1701 I noticed a few times that you mentioned the "problems with pumice" leaving white spots in the deeper parts of the pores of the wood. Howz about using a colored wood filler that maches the wood? Set some of the filler out to thoroughly dry, then grind it up into a fine powder, (morter and pestal.. ex wife's coffee grinder? :) and then use it as you did the pumice?
panhead1219 1 year ago
Thanks for these videos, Steve.
I've put FP on a few guitars now- if you're using pumice for pore filling, you can mix in some artist's dry pigment with the pumice to avoid the 'white pore syndrome'.
PNWJohnA 4 years ago
Good idea. I haven't tried that one. Thanks for the suggestion.
bobloblaw1701 4 years ago
I've heard Zpoxy works really well for a filler. It is an resin based epoxy.
Chuck Hutchison
Papachulo57 4 years ago
Try using CA ( super glue) on rosewood, I haven't tried other woods yet. Just put a few drops on then wipe with a tissue. Do it outside as the fumes are bad. Then sand it and you will be amazed at the finish. I may take 2 goes for deep pores.
mike789166 2 years ago
You are THE MAN for telling me how to do this!!
sysphus13 4 years ago
well, I'm a man, I don't know about The Man. I continue to wrestle with french polishing. Since I shot these videos, I've tried various approaches and I'm still not really satisfied. I still like it better than spraying though. Do some internet searches, there are lots of opinions out there.
bobloblaw1701 4 years ago
Steve why not just use fine wood dust( ala rosewood or whatever) to fill the pores? Anyways great videos! Keep it up. Thanks! Steve
TexasSizzle 4 years ago
Well, for the most part, that's what the french polish is supposed to do. In theory, the pumice acts as an abrasive and creates this slurry of shellac, pumice and wood dust. It is time consuming, but it's kind of therapeutic - gives you time to contimplate the wonders of the universe and how tired your right tricep is getting...
bobloblaw1701 4 years ago