Official Luthiers Forum!

In past posts there have been references to using egg whites to size the top or for pore filling. Can someone go over this again? What does it mean to "size" the top? Why would you want to do this? How do you apply the egg whites? Do you "scramble" or stir or otherwise prepare the whites for use? ...use a brush? I would probably find any discussion helpful...
...Steve

_________________
Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Seperate the egg white from the yolk and whisk until you reach the soft peak stage. Let this settle for 4 or 5 hours and then scoop off the foamy covering. The liquid that remains is what is used for pore filling or sizing. In reality the pores are more likely filled by wood dust with the egg white acting as the 'glue' or binder.
It can be applied with a brush, your fingers or (as I do) with a small folded cloth.
Some people don't bother with the whisking stage and just use the egg white as it comes. I find it a little stringy? used in that fashion.
I use it on Spruce as a barrier coat to prevent my oil varnish soaking deep into the wood. 2 or 3 coats of the egg white with light sanding gives a very smooth surface. I don't think you want it sitting on the surface as you would with a varnish layer. Being largely water based the stuff dries fast and it dries hard. If you were to leave some egg white in a cup for several weeks it will eventually dry to a very hard material, complete with numerous cracks in it's surface.
On figured Maple I may seal with 3 or 4 applications of the egg white followed by a coat of clear varnish. That will prevent any subsequent colour coats from staining the wood.

Over on luthier community Colin S did a nice little write up how he does it here's the link http://www.luthiercom.org/phpBB3/viewto ... a&start=75

_________________
Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes