French Polishing Notebook (Full Version)

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estebanana -> French Polishing Notebook (Sep. 14 2013 10:46:03)

Not interested in doing a complete method for French Polishing, but if it turns into that ok- just want to exchange notes on process.
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I've been using these auto body abrasives to good effect the last three years. They are similar to Micro-Mesh, but I find them more toothy and versatile.

The name will not pass the profanity filter, so check out this link: http://www.eagleabrasives.com/assilex.html

Tomorrow I'll give a few notes on how I use it. Hope some of you have tips I can use. Currently I'm finishing this seven string cutaway, so I'll post a bit using it as a sample piece.



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constructordeguitarras -> RE: French Polishing Notebook (Sep. 14 2013 15:09:36)

Yes, that is some name.

I have been following french polishing with sanding with wet-dry papers from Japan (just to be completely contrary to you I guess) that I think I obtained around 1997 from LMII. They are silicon carbide and I have 1000, 1200, 1500, and 2000 grits though I may only use one or two, with olive oil as the lubricant, followed by rubbing with liquid abrasive auto body polishes using terry cloths.



Sharp edges and points are easy to polish through. It looks like your heel could be a difficulty. I often have trouble with the edges formed by the facets at the ends of bridge wings. I have to sand very lightly there, even when I think I rounded them enough in sanding the wood.

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estebanana -> RE: French Polishing Notebook (Sep. 15 2013 4:33:21)

quote:

Sharp edges and points are easy to polish through. It looks like your heel could be a difficulty. I often have trouble with the edges formed by the facets at the ends of bridge wings. I have to sand very lightly there, even when I think I rounded them enough in sanding the wood.


I was going to address this very issue. I use the Assilex because it is a woven abrasive designed to cut without scratching. And you don't have to push hard to achieve a cutting action so it is very controllable.

I think these abrasives were developed to do auto body prep so they were created to cut but not scratch. I can say they do that after having used them for three years. They need to be backed with a firm foam pad, I use closed cell urethane and cut different sized pieces, but the company sells flat pads. The other thing Assilex is designed to do is level. When backed with flat pad it levels the surface true, but does not scratch. Those attributes make it a good French polish tool.

So here are two more pictures of the process with Assilex and a close up of Assilex showing the woven structure from the back of the material.

You can see in photo of the guitar #1 I gently used the abrasive to level a prep the area for another layer of shellac.
In photo 2 I wiped the shellac on with a cloth with no oil. I can repeat this process and body up the guitar without 'burning through' sensitive areas.

Anyway, happy to answer and questions of show a video of applying the shellac. Just sharing some technical information, do with it what you like. Hope some of you find it useful.







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Stephen Eden -> RE: French Polishing Notebook (Sep. 15 2013 8:54:27)

I've been using something similar but it comes already foam backed. Have a little search for them if you would like to have a look. Look up Indasa sponge sanding pads. I use super fine to cut back pumicing and Micro fine for de-nibbing and the final cut back.

Just recently I have been cutting back with Micro Fine for the final cut back and then buffing with some burnishing cream until I have got a nice deep shine. No spiriting off needed!



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