French polish touch-up

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dartemo1

Posts: 76
Joined: Apr. 21 2010

French polish touch-up

I've got a french polished guitar and after several years it has developed a typical "rough" spot on the board where my right hand rests. As has been suggested by several members of the Foro it is not recommended for an inexperienced person to try to repolish the guitar with shellac. Can somebody give me an opinion regarding products such as French polish recoverer or French polish cleaner and reviver from Lasonata? That's what they say about it - "This Polish reviver is one of these special formulas made from a recipe over one hundred years ago, containing a special blend of secret ingredients which include pure cider vinegar and linseed oil". Generally, would you care about this worn patch and could it eventually be further worn down to bare wood etc?

Thank you

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 8 2011 20:32:20

aarongreen

Posts: 367
Joined: Jan. 16 2004

RE: French polish touch-up (in reply to dartemo1)

such worn patches are not fatal if you don't mind a little discoloration in the top (which I don't). I would not use any product containing oil and put it on a worn patch, it could very easily stain and possibly contaminate the bare wood (depending on what oil it is). Best thing is to get the polish touched up if you can find someone to do it. If that is not possible and your goal is to simply protect the bare wood then a few swipes with some superblonde shellac won't be fatal. You have to work really hard to screw up a shellac finish beyond repair and since it wears away, you will be back to square one eventually anyways I wouldn't go overboard nor try to make it look like it didn't happen, unless you are a skilled french polisher.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 9 2011 1:10:03

rodrigovalt

Posts: 296
Joined: May 1 2011

RE: French polish touch-up (in reply to dartemo1)

In one guitar that I owned I applied the Planet Waves "Restore" product and it work quite well. Just make sure not to overuse it.

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Rodrigo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 9 2011 1:30:14

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: French polish touch-up (in reply to dartemo1)

If the polish has worn through to the wood no amount of restore product will solve the problem. french polishing is pretty tricky really it is also usually expensive to get it sorted out though! Still I would take it to someone who knows what they are doing though.

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Classical and Flamenco Guitars www.EdenGuitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 9 2011 12:49:15

keith

Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston

RE: French polish touch-up (in reply to dartemo1)

"This Polish reviver is one of these special formulas made from a recipe over one hundred years ago, containing a special blend of secret ingredients which include pure cider vinegar and linseed oil".

Everytime I see a product that says "secret ingredients" or a book that says "X finally revealed" the first thing that comes to mind is the product/book is just a run of the mill product/book using hyperbole to get the consumer to buy it. A "reviver" reminds me of the commerical on television where a guy takes sandpaper to a wood floor and then dumps on "the miracle product" that makes it look new again. I think I would follow the advice of someone who is known to do great french polishing (that would be Aaron). Cider Vinegar? That is a new one for me. Maybe that is the miracle juice Strad used on his violins

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 9 2011 17:19:20

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: French polish touch-up (in reply to dartemo1)

there are old recepies for making a polishcompound to make dull frenchpolish shine again.. also works great on nitro cellucose finishes.

all i know is that its called popotte in dutch.. ive used it, and it works realy great, no idea whats init though, i bought some off www.politoeren.com wich is a dutch website so i dont know ifits of any help to you.

i think the stuff la sonanta sells is something similar, not sure though.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 9 2011 17:54:27

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: French polish touch-up (in reply to dartemo1)

I would say take it to a good french polisher..
my teacher's guitar has a spot where its about 5cm x 2-3cm where it's down to the wood, no more polish.. but I think it gives the guitar character.
I don't like gloss looking guitars, I prefer the matt/satin look... where it looks used rather than super new.

check out the guitar at the first few seconds of the video.. I can't find a photo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 9 2011 20:00:58

dartemo1

Posts: 76
Joined: Apr. 21 2010

RE: French polish touch-up (in reply to dartemo1)

Thank you for all your replies, really appreciate your help. So far I am going to do nothing and use "watchful waiting" and if signs of bare wood appear will use super blond shellac to coat the spot. Actually, I do not mind the look at all and just wonder if some serious damage could be done by not taking care of that. I need to play really long and hard and with great concentration to get that beautiful guitar look as in HolyEvil video.
Keith, I guess I know at least one ingredient of the X-mixture. Cider vinegar is probably apple cider vinegar, not sure if it's widely used in Spain though.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 9 2011 23:26:03

rombsix

Posts: 7808
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: French polish touch-up (in reply to HolyEvil)

quote:

check out the guitar at the first few seconds of the video.. I can't find a photo

1:36 shows it quite well.

Great playing!

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http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 10 2011 3:09:56

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: French polish touch-up (in reply to dartemo1)

quote:

ORIGINAL: dartemo1
with great concentration to get that beautiful guitar look

I had to retouch the french polish on my negra because it wore down to the wood around the 1-5th fret. now the whole neck is so glossy

just make sure it's not bare wood and it should be ok I think..

edit: you have to check this guitar out.. at 3:00

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 10 2011 22:07:17

dartemo1

Posts: 76
Joined: Apr. 21 2010

RE: French polish touch-up (in reply to HolyEvil)

Nice, I think Willie's Trigger is still a notch ahead.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 11 2011 1:23:01

dartemo1

Posts: 76
Joined: Apr. 21 2010

RE: French polish touch-up (in reply to dartemo1)

Quick update,

I've tried to use french polish on a scrap peace of cedar and it works Ok. For the guitar, there is definitely a layer of shellac still present on the course (non glossy) spot. Would you suggest first to polish the rough spot with a 1000 or 2000 wet or dry paper or just go ahead and apply a fresh layer of shellac without sanding it first?

Thank you!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 27 2011 4:24:04