Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello all,
I am testing on scraps still with the rockhard varnish. So far it really is easy to apply and looks great. However, the end result I want is a satin finish. My procedure for doing this is:

1. When left to cure for 2 weeks sand from 600 to 800 to 1000 dry then use 0000 steel wool to finish....and that it is it.

Does this sound ok to you? Aside from using a satin finish what are your favorite ways to satin up the finish?

I recall somewhere to use the wool with wax, then use it with water to get the wax off. I guess the wax is a lubricant to get more even scratch marks?

One last item....Do you know of a way to add an additive to the varnish to make it satin? I would put the last or last two coats as satin to get the final product I want with the clarity of the gloss underneeth.....I thought silica was used or something of that nature.

Thanks for any info
Matthew

Matthew--

I've had pretty good luck using Pratt and Lambert No 38 Clear varnish (H17) satin to get a satin finish. You can thin it with pure gum spirits of Turpentine. Used by itself, it will give you the Taylor "110" look.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC