Steve's Guitar Making Part 8 - Finish 1 of 3

French Polishing 1 of 3

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• guitar
• making
• lutherie
• french
• polish
• finish

[Jim5150jvc]

I have a northern ash guitar body that I would like to have a natural finish. would this be a good method for it?

[bobloblaw1701]

It would work. Ash has an open grain like walnut or oak so you're going to have the same challenges I did on this guitar to get the pores filled, but it will work fine.

[theunderlyingme]

Hey Steve,

I'm up to french polishing my guitar body. I understand the pro's to polishing the body without the neck and bridge on as it is easier to cover evenly, but I'm not sure on how to attach the bridge once done polishing. Do I sand the contact area where the bridge will touch the guitar top then glue it on? and should i consider epoxy or stick with yellow glue? thanks for the helpful videos.

[bobloblaw1701]

You have to trace out the bridge on the guitar with a knife or razor. Put masking tape all around the outside of the line to protect the surrounding finish, then remove the finished with sandpaper/scraper/whatever. Then glue it on with white glue (so it can be removed down the road).

Steve

[bobloblaw1701]

I think the fingerboard is left unfinished simply because it's such a high wear area that any finish would quickly be destroyed. The bridge can be finished. I french polish the ones I put on my classical guitars. I think it's just a matter of preference.

[SlowTrain08]

"take some straight alcohol and get my pad wet..."

...thats what she said

haha great video

[bobloblaw1701]

ok, that one got me laughing. Thanks

[sirgreggins8824]

does rottenstone work as well as the pumice? i can get 4f pumice if needed, i just know that rottenstone is finer

[MrHarrisBueller]

Hey Steve. I love the videos! I was wondering, at what point/stage would you do sunbursting? (e.g. before sealing, after sealing, before/after filling?)

[sirgreggins8824]

Hi steve, I'm doing an acoustic guitar project right now, and i've been told to use dewaxed shellac as a sealer then lacquer over it as a topcoat for more scratch protection since that's what i have. Do i NEED pumice to seal it up, or can I just brush on a coat or 2 of 1 lb cut of shellac?

[lushesfeet]

hey steve! thank you so much for this video. i have one question. i have a ovation s771 balladeer special(spruce top) with a natural finish. do you supposed this method would be good to restore my guitar? thank you!

[Nonix321]

great video series! I have a question excuse my ignorance but, Why don't you fill the pours before putting on the polish?

[dwshiva]

i'm a bit confussed by it not being toxic as it's mixed with methyl hydrate?

[rushpython100]

very non-toxic!?

nice. thanx for the vid.

[Beemerboy324]

The "fine tooth comb" approach is good but I use a tack cloth. Seems to work a bit quicker. French Polish is very nice but the final finish is still a bit fraglie even after a year.