French Polish repair

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flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

French Polish repair

Hi. Just seeking any thoughts on repairing minor damage to my Anders flamenca. As can be seen some rubbing action has removed the finish.

I now use Deoro guitar supports on my guitars so it will in future be covered by the film supplied by Deoro.

I could thus just leave it but maybe a very light sanding and coated with something. Is it possible to buy a very small quantity of french polish perhaps?

It' not a big deal. I'm very much of Ander's mindset these days "Don't clean it, play it"

but just incase there is something simple that I could do.

ps Not suggesting that Anders ever in anyway said abuse your guitar

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2020 8:43:53

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: French Polish repair (in reply to flyeogh)

This isn’t a serious issue. No sanding required.

French Polish is the technique of applying shellac (goma laca) with a pad. In this case, if you don’t need to restore the spot to a point where it’s invisible, but do want to seal it and protect the wood, having someone who knows polishing give it some wipes would be the easiest route. I can’t see them wanting to charge more than the cost of a coffee and tostada, or maybe a couple beer.

It could be brought to the point where the finish is completely restored. It will still be visible, however. Even that wouldn’t be too expensive to do, the cost would be more in time as the person might want to keep the guitar for a week or so.

This is assuming the guitar was originally French Polished, but I think it was.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2020 13:39:52

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: French Polish repair (in reply to RobF)

Tx Rob very useful info.

quote:

This is assuming the guitar was originally French Polished, but I think it was.

Yes, this is from 2005 and Anders was north of
Granada in Quentar,and used a FP specialist in those days. Later I believe he did it himself.

I think from what you offered I'd fancy having a go myself. I've asked the Stewmac guys what might be the best product - pen or spray. .

I'm now on a nostalgia trip. Train down from Madrid, playing with Ander's little dog, picking up my guitar

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2020 14:15:06

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: French Polish repair (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

I think from what you offered I'd fancy having a go myself. I've asked the Stewmac guys what might be the best product - pen or spray.

Honestly, neither. The cost of materials is pennies, but the application is best left to someone with experience. Either pen or spray is likely to mess up the finish. Plus, it’s expensive ordering something from the states that can be bought locally for a song. I really don’t recommend you take this on yourself, regardless of what Stewmac might tell you.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2020 14:48:56

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: French Polish repair (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

Yes, this is from 2005 and Anders was north of
Granada in Quentar,and used a FP specialist in those days.

Nimbus was such a cutie!

He used a guy in the city back then. Same one who did mine. Ask around Cadiz for a quick wipe.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2020 18:08:30

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: French Polish repair (in reply to Escribano)

quote:

it’s expensive ordering something from the states

That surprises me. I always order states side as the prices are cheap. At the moment EJ45's from Stewmac are 7.56 Euros. Here in Spain I can't get less than 9.99 Euros (not that I've looked at more than 3 or 4 suppliers). OK I'm a stewmac member so free delivery. I accept it is a bit difficult to compare but with the US I also get customer service and great guarantees.

I posted here how I told Stewmac that I had broken my tuning machine. They insisted on replacing it free of charge. I broke it as I told them. I'd had 13 years of great usage. And it was priced at 350$. Customer service beyond the call of duty I think

.

Anyway I'll give the repair a go if Stewmac come up with a product. I see it as part of my guitar learning experience. And if you think I'm mad Rob you may well be right

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2020 18:44:09

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: French Polish repair (in reply to Escribano)

quote:

Ask around Cadiz for a quick wipe.

Aggghhhhhhhhhhhh !!! Are you sure that that is good advice Simon

Seriously you had the first Olivo wood rosette if I remember right? Not that I regretted my November 2005 purchase but that rosette looked really cool.

Bit concerned about Anders. Haven't had contact since start of 2019 - January 1st in fact.

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2020 19:09:38

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: French Polish repair (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

Anyway I'll give the repair a go if Stewmac come up with a product.

If I recall, I was the one who recommended you contact Stewmac concerning their tuner warranty, as well as offered a lot of free advice on how to address the problem on your own. Spent a fair amount of time researching my responses, too.

If your mind is made up about the shellac repair then by all means do as you wish, it’s your guitar (and money), after all. But why bother asking about it here?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2020 19:29:37

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: French Polish repair (in reply to RobF)

quote:

But why bother asking about it here?

Rob only because I want info so I can make a good decision that I'm happy with. Here one often gets first hand experience. Obviously I ask elsewhere - even suppliers.

Be assured your input is most welcome and gratefully received, but you'll appreciate I can't guarantee I'll follow any particular route. Cheers

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2020 19:48:27

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: French Polish repair (in reply to flyeogh)

As I said, it’s your guitar. Researching a problem is just good sense.

I have no dog in this, the beauty of free advice on the Foro is, while the recipient is under no obligation to accept it, the donor is also free to disengage if the advice is ignored. But, trust me, the course of action I have recommended is solid. If you decide to spray lacquer over a French Polished shellac finish, nobody’s gonna stop you, but it’s neither the correct nor wise thing to do.

At any rate, peace, and best of luck with your repair.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2020 20:13:17

edguerin

Posts: 1589
Joined: Dec. 24 2007
From: Siegburg, Alemania

RE: French Polish repair (in reply to RobF)

quote:

Bit concerned about Anders. Haven't had contact since start of 2019 - January 1st in fact

Yeah, I too hope he's doing well.

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Ed

El aficionado solitario
Alemania

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 29 2020 17:03:36

estebanana

Posts: 9351
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: French Polish repair (in reply to flyeogh)

If you ever get over to Jerez take it to Jorge de Zofia -
He’s honest and efficient. Don’t do it yourself. I’m trying to say this in a polite way, you don’t understand the problem well enough to fix it. Take it to Jorge, because Anders guitars is too important to be used as a French Polish learning experience. You’ll inevitably F it up and have to take to it a shop anyway, so just take it to Jerez.

You seem reticent to take it to a local shop to be worked on, and that’s understandable because there’s a dearth of good repair people. But I can recommend Jorge as a French polish expert who is fast and reliable.

https://youtu.be/WVGpHe2EqIo

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 29 2020 20:36:59