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I have the French Polishing for Guitarmakers 2.0 video by Ronald Fernandez and am wondering if any of you have seen it and if so are the steps outlined in the video what you would reccomend?

I'm planning of pore filling with Z-Poxy rather than pumice, but was wondering if there are any other steps or materials that any of you would reccomend in place of what the video covers.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

I have never seen the video. but know of his process. It is pretty much the traditional process. I don't remember what oil he uses but would recommend Walnut oil.

Now for the muneca or pad I highly recommend a well worn linen or muslin for the outer cover and 100% undyed wood for the inner pad. Cotton cheesecloth works but wool is the best.

What Michael said except I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I had blotchy problems with walnut Oil. It may have been that I had a bad batch of oil but it was a nightmare and almost cost me a customer. EVOO for me here out and never a problem.

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Dave Bland

remember...

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

Thanks Michael. I appreciate the tips.

I was going to ask you to explain the "undyed wood" since I didn't remember seeing that in the video, but while I was posting this it kept running through my head and I'm pretty sure you meant "undyed wool".

In his video he uses baby oil and says it's because some of the vegetable oils can go rancid. I bought some baby oil, but can get some Walnut oil if I need to. What would the benefit be of using Walnut oil over baby oil?

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Baby oil??? scratching my head. I would be worried about baby oil. It could have additives that you do not want. you want a pure oil either extra virgin olive oil of virgin walnut oil. Walnut is rarely stepped on (have additives added) I believe that most baby oils have had lanolin added.

If you use Olive oil be sure it is extra virgin not just virgin.


Yep typo, wool not wood

Cool. Thanks Michael. I'll run out and get some different oil.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

[QUOTE=blain1976] What would the benefit be of using Walnut oil over baby oil? [/QUOTE]
Baby oil is petrolium-based, walnut and olive oils are not. Some people have good results with baby oil, but others say it doesn't work well for them. It's kind of a "pick one and go with it" situation. I don't think you can go wrong with olive oil. It can go rancid, but so what? It has a pretty long shelf life (many months, in my experience), and you can find it in smaller bottles, so you're not really wasting much money. Besides, you can transfer a couple of ounces into another bottle for FP use, and use the rest in the kitchen!

As for walnut oil, be sure to buy the pure stuff. Read the lable. Much of the grocery store WO has additives. Lee Valley and (I think) Woodcraft sell the good stuff. I've found walnut oil to be a bit less slippery than olive oil, but some folks here like it a lot. I don't know if it really makes any difference for a French Polish, but walnut oil is a semi-drying oil, and FP expert Eugene Clark actually mixes it in the bottle with his shellac. They remain seperate from each other, though, so you'd have to agitate the mixture before each application to the pad. Clark then also uses olive oil as his lubricant.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Baby Oil, just Mineral Oil with some smelly stuff in it?  I saw some FP instructions that used Mineral Oil too.  Don't know if Baby Oil would be right or not.  However, when used as directed, Mineral Oil is an excellent lubricant, and I don't think it has any petroleum in it.

Has anyone ever tried grape-seed oil.  Monounsaturated, like Olive oil, but will handle higher temperatures in the pan - not that that would have any impact on FP process.  How about almond oil - seems like it would smell good while working.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

"about almond oil - seems like it would smell good while working"

How can anything smell better than Olive Oil? ........ Oh Yeah .... I'm Italian LOL

Peter

."

I used EVOO on my FP. I did see on that tape on FP that he said that baby oil would work as a lubricant, aqnd he did mention something about the smell. I'm afraqid all I could think about if I used baby oil would be dirty diapers

 

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Reguards,

Ken H

Main thing is to use a 100% pure slow drying oil (IMO a natural vege oil like olive or walnut) that will not introduce contaminates to the film and that what ever type of solvent you use will cut it and clear it off during spiriting and glazing.