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I've seen references to using Meguiar's #7 polish as the final step in French Polishing.
Does the #7 leave a film on the FP?
Must the #7 be removed from the guitar before applying more FP?
If so, how?

Thanks,

Ray

Meguires #7 leaves no film on the instrument. It is a polish, not a wax, and it contains no silicone. It is a very fine abrasive, only, in a carrier. I can't ever remember the numbers, but Swirl Remover and Show Car Glaze are the two that are most used with FP, if one uses a polishing compound. Purists don't use anything, and depend on the stiffing off sessions after the body sessions, and the glazing sessions to get the gloss required.

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Waddy

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I find Meguiar's, whichy is made for car finishes, to be a little too agrassive for shellac. I like Novus polish, #3 and #2; it's made for plexi and the like, and seems to be a softer abrasive material. If you can't find it locally, try Micromark.

My usual regimen includes a VERY light foam pad buffing with H4 Meguires and hand applications of H2 (fine cut) and H7 glaze on FP (shellac). If your application is thin anywhere, you can buff through it.
This is done after the glaze coats and spiriting off (if you use that method) with no final sanding prior to the application of the rubbing compounds.

#7 with a terry cloth rag, by hand only.
If you need to FP some more after the #7 (and what is wrong with that? I found a spot too..) wipe the guitar with a damp cloth, then FP.

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I've been using Novis #2 for about 15 years. I too prefer it to Meguiars.

Maguiar’s #7 is often mentioned to use because it readily available at your local auto part store. Novis is not always easily available. Truth is the best way to polish out a French polish finish is to glaze via the French polish glazing technique. You can achieve as high of gloss as you are willing to put the effort into and never use anything other than shellac, alcohol and lube oil. yes it is more work but you achieve a better result.

I definitely like the local availability of the Meguires products.

To be clear though, I use these compounds to "soften" the high gloss that Michael mentions which, I think, gives a more pleasing sheen than the bright shine you get right off the pad.

Novis works fast and achieves a high gloss. It is very easy to get online. I've only buffed out a couple hundred French polished guitars with it. Now I use my buffing wheel and it only takes a few minutes to buff a complete guitar to a high gloss.

I have only used Meguires and could not believe how much deeper the finish looked, very easy to use, of course the Military used it before the public knew about it. Novous not Novice is available at most any marine shop or should be. It is was developed for fiber glass finishes and it works wonderfully. I've used it on plenty of boats and motor cycles, yeah, it will gloss the heck out of a bike, make a custom build just glow! And since I live close to Galveston I need to find some to give it a try since the above builder gives it such high praise.

The correct spelling is Novus, not Novis as I mentioned earlier. Tom Humphrey mentioned its use in his French Polishing video around 1994 which is when I gave it a try.

I've also went back to using parafin oil as a lube which Tom also mentioned on the vid. The results are amazing. When I use Walnut oil the best stuff is the 100% pure stuff used for butcher blocks and wooden eating utensils. I think Woodworker or WoodCraft sell it. Make sure you clear the oil and don't let it sit on the guitar for more than a day! The oil hardens and will leave spots that need to be sanded if you leave it on. No matter what lube you use make sure you clear it. Usually a wipe with naptha will do, but the excess oil will blead through to the surface after a few hours or over night.

Where do you get parrafin oil?
Thanks,
Walter

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Walter Lay
"It's taken me so long, but now that I know
I can see. All that I do or say, is all I ever will be"
- Billy Joe Shaver

Behlen's makes it so you can find it at most woodworking stores...Constantines, WoodCraft, Woodworker, ...etc

I have always thought that mineral oil is the same as paraffin oil and have used mineral oil in my FP along with olive oil and walnut oil for years. If I'm wrong on this issue I'd sure like to know... I have a plastic bottle of mineral oil that I bought at the drug store years ago for a very reasonable price. It's available readily at most drug stores.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-mineral-oil.htm

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Peter