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I'm getting near the end of FP'ing my 1st guitar and I have a couple questions regarding polishing the guitar...

What type of Polish can be used to do the final polishing after FP is applied?

Does it matter if it’s applied with a rag, buffing wheel, etc.?

Should the polish be applied in several sessions or is one session generally all that is required?

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

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

When properly spirited off and glazed there is not need to polish. The process will render a high gloss on its own. The height of the gloss is directly proportional to the elbow grease expended over time during the glazing process. However there is no problem using a paste polish like 3m perfect it or Maguires #7. It can be ragged or buffed. You can also use Menzerna med fine, fine and extra fine compound on a HS buffer if you wish.

Thanks again Michael.

That's exactly what I needed.

_________________
Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

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

For me, the 3M liquid compounds (finesse-it and perfect-it) are infinitely better then the menzerna for shellac. Just dry sand with 1500 grit, put a little finesse-it on the area of the guitar you want to buff, put it against the power buffer and have a high gloss in 10 seconds.

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

Blain,
Maybe not this time but some time when you are French polishing give this a try.

After your second body session and every session there after spirit-off in line with the grain like you were buffing shoes the old fashion way. glide on and glide off with a quick but moderately firm motion. overlapping just a bit each pass. Work in one direction only. The the opposite direction the next session and always with the grain.

This will level the film as you build it. no need to sand level. It also will some what polish as you build your film.

As you glaze start reducing the amount of shellac you use at about 1/2 way through the glaze process. Keep glazing till you have a high gloss.

Forgo level sanding and you will not need to polish.

The process of French polishing is just as its name implies. A hand polished shellac finish. How far you take the gloss is up to you and the amount of glazing you do.

My opinion is the main reason most use a polish to achieve a high gloss is because they have not learned to build a level film and need to level sand. Learning to build a level film via the spiriting -off process eliminates the need to level sand and leads to a deeper looking finish with less work.

Michael, I want to spend a month studying french polishing with you!

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

[QUOTE=jfrench] .....put it against the power buffer and have a high gloss in 10 seconds.[/QUOTE]

Joshua, the french polish on your guitars is incredible, I've never heard of using a power buffer on fp, what sort of power buffer do you use?

Marc - I use the one stew mac sells. My polishes still aren't perfect... its hard with such a thin finish to get it absolutely perfect (rather have it thin then perfect, personally), but it works pretty good.

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

Forgot to mention - Colin is the one who suggested I break out the power buffer....

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

Thanks Michael,

Great tips and I will be sure to try them on my next build.

I have to say, my biggest problem with French Polishing so far has been really getting into it and then my fingernail scrapes the surface leaving a streak across it. I double check to make sure I cut my nails before starting, but even then it will still leave a mark. I've though about using big thick rubber gloves to see if that might help and mind you, I'm not constantly making this mistake, but it has happened a good 4 times now and really bums me out. Anyone else have this problem or do I possibly just have deformed thumbs? LOL]

I second what Todd said. Since he thought of it, he can have this month and I'll take next month.   

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

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

Happened to me too with the top I FPolished.  And I have a hefty thumb claw (for nylon playing)  It didnt just scrape the shellac, it also dented the spruce quite nastily.

I thought about a glove too, but I'm not sure if one can still have good control over the process with it.
Probably better to simply be more careful :)

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Build log

A long time ago I used to accidentally scracth the guitars while french polishing... takes forever to fix. But I think after a while being careful enough to avoid that becomes second nature. I tend to keep my nails long while polishing now.

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

Well, glad to hear that I don't just have deformed thumbs. Or maybe I do, but then so do y'all.

Yeah, I think just being more careful would probably almost completly (if not completly) eleminate it. I'm sure that a lot of the veterans don't have the problem (if they ever did) because they're used to doing it now.

I'll try and keep it fresh in my mind to keep those thumbs up and to be careful.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

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

Learning how to hold the muneca with your nails toward the neck will help. Nails should be pointed at and griping the tie point or as my grandfather called it the rag dolls neck. Of course this is not a required but this grip will keep the nails away from the body. fixing a nail scratch should not take more than a couple min. Unless you are late in the boding process and really dug in