Official Luthiers Forum!

It seems that no matter how I try, I always end up with a LOT of lint in my french polish. I know I can achieve a lint free result because of the french polish class I took with Marshall Brune. Using the linen he provided, I achieved lint/goober free results.

I have both irish linen and muslin here. I've run them through the washer and dryer umpteen times (about 6-7). I've soaked in Borax. I still end up with endless tiny strands in my finish.

Any advice would be appreciated, especially if you have a specific online source for buying a product that you know works. I'm getting tired of the endless process of padding, followed by sanding to remove all the specks I managed to put into the finish.

my guess is that you are cutting the pads with straight sissors that leaves the edges able to fray. the lint from the frayed edges falls and is picked up on the pad. Giving the apperance that the pad is linting. Try using pinking (sp) shears to cut your pads 100% cotton muslin will not lent off the surface, but only from the frayed edges.

One more thing is you may be working a pad to long and it fray on the pad surface. I change pads about every 2-3 body sessions

The tird possibility is you are using a blended muslin. use only 100% cotton muslin the older the better.MichaelP38601.3999189815

I use Genuine Irish Linen from Woodfinishingsupplies.com . It's a little expensive but it's good stuff. I pay the extra. F.P. is a big enough pain without lint!

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I have both 100% cotton Muslin, and the irish linen from woodfinishingsupplies. However, Michael's conjecture was dead on, I am using straight scissors to cut the pad. However, at the Brune's Marshall just used a sharp knife and cut the linen against the bench.

ETA: I find that if I snap either the irish linen or muslin taut that I can see tons of dust waft into the air. Do I need to just keep washing and washing these?

rlabbe38601.4576041667

Yep keep washing.

I never use new muslin. In fact most of the time I go to thrift stores and by used white t-shirts or garage sale and look for used pure white muslin sheets. Up scale hotels and restrants are good sorce for used muslin talk to the maintance manger most will give discards away.

Hmm, I have some sheets and pillow cases I'm about to retire, perhaps I can convince myself to give me them for use on my guitars.

Thanks for the advice.

pure white and 100% cotton give them a try.