Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm looking at ordering some sandarac for the next FP. Anybody used it, any issues?

Wood Finishing Enterprises has it on their web site in Australian and N. African persuasions. Is there a significant difference?

_________________
now known around here as Pat Foster
_________________
http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Pat--

I purchased some sandarac and some copal from Talas, a Conservation and Restoration company. I haven't yet had the chance to test it as my wife and I are about 60% complete in a move from our apartment in Ann Arbor to a house a little ways out in the country and that has taken top shelf.

It will be a few weeks before I can begin putting a new shop together, though I have space for one.

I plan on testing sometime in early June.

_________________
Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Pat,
Are we talking about "Gum Sandarac"?
I've added that to FP in the past, and have have good success with it.
I believe the tip came from Frank Ford, who said that it helped move the solution toward a varnish. (And I hope I haven't mis-quoted Frank.)
Anyway, it smells great, as well as adds some elasticity to the film.

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Yes, Steve, that's the stuff. Guess I'll give it a try. Thanks for the info.

Jim,

Let us know what you discover. I'll do the same.

_________________
now known around here as Pat Foster
_________________
http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Violin maker websites have more info on spirit varnish formulae than you can read and digest in one lifetime. A good brief account of using the natural alcohol-soluble resins other than shellac is in Ralph Mayer's The Artist's Handbook (a wonderful classic reference). IIRC, the short of it is that sandarac added to shellac will make for a harder finish, but that if you use to much it will get brittle. I think Mayer says no more than 15% (or someone says that somewhere). There are varying grades and origins of all the natural resins, and this can matter a lot. There's an artist supply company whose name begins with a K that I haven't yet had enough coffee (or sleep) to remember that is reliable for quality. Kremer? Klezmer? Someone here will know who I mean.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I believe it's Kremer Pigments.

It's also avaiable at woodfinishingenterprises

_________________
Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Try a ratio of 10:1 by weight, shellac to sandarac. I grind it up with a spice/coffee grinder--it's hard stuff.
You can also get it from International Violin Company in Baltimore : www.internationalviolin.com

_________________
James Warwick
J. Warwick Guitars, LLC
http://www.jwarwickguitars.com

Thanks for the great info.

_________________
now known around here as Pat Foster
_________________
http://www.patfosterguitars.com