French Polish Over Existing Lacquer (Full Version)

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seanm -> French Polish Over Existing Lacquer (Jun. 7 2006 16:36:56)

First off I know that french polish is a technique and that the question really reads lacquer over existing lacquer ... that said :)

I have a guitar that is obviously spray lacquered (and thick) due to the large amount of finish cracking on the spruce top. Now I am quite proficient at french polishing techiques but have only finished new guitars. Two questions:

1) Can I re-melt the existing finish on the top buy simply applying coats of lacquer by french polishing and will this help (i.e. fill the cracks) at all?

2) Or would I be better of to remove the old finish and simply french polish the top anew (knowing that some builders prefer the top polished and sides sprayed anyway)

Thoughts and thanks in advance?

Sean



Phil -> RE: French Polish Over Existing Lacquer (Jun. 7 2006 20:06:46)

Sean,

I don't have an answer, but I do have a couple of questions. I always thought that french polish was a hand rubbed technique using linseed oil and shellac. If you use other finishing materials is it still called french polish? Also, could you give a brief explanation on how it's done with laquer? How does the final finish differ from a sprayed finish?

Thanks,
Phil



seanm -> RE: French Polish Over Existing Lacquer (Jun. 8 2006 13:35:26)

Sorry for the confussion. I associated the shellac flakes with the resin used to make lacquer since they historically both come from the lac beetle. Spray lacquers can be of different bases, for sure. I basically wondering if most spray lacquers 'melt' when they come in contact with a solvent and that is why I was wondering if traditional dissolved shellac flake french polishing could be used over something like a nitrocellulose lacquer.

French Polish is a technique (as you described) and not the material used however you need a very fast drying (almost instantaeneous) 'polish' for the technique to work. Shellac flakes disolved in 99% alcohol creates this type of medium and is basically the only thing used as far as I know. The oil is simply a lubricant for the rubbing process and not intended to be a part of the final finish (the latter stages of polishing are called 'spiriting out' where you remove excess oil). Sorry, I wasn't more clear :)

Sean



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