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My first classical is a Pumice filled ,sprayed shellac finish on Walnut back and sides. It came out well ,but like many walnut guitars I’ve seen looks too dry and grey for my taste. I am looking for the dark/ wet look you get when walnut has an oil finish.
Can anyone see a problem with putting a thin drying oil on the bare wood then starting my spit coats and pumice process?

Not at all a problem. A good friend of mine who teaches wood finishing and also does restoration work at the Smithsonian gave us a demonstration of how he does French polishing last Summer. His first step was to wipe on a coat of mineral oil. Really made the figure pop and worked like a charm.

He went on to work up a nice shiney finish in less than a half hour. I still have the piece of wood he demonstrated on and the finish is very good.

Grant

thanks grant. would'nt a non drying oil slowly bleed forever? through a thin guitar side say?

Nope, this combination works perfectly.

You do not want to know how many pieces of irreplaceable furniture this guy has worked on.

And he is a "shellacaholic"

G

I think I'm more of a toxic finish phobic than a shellacaholic
putting that first coat of oil on fresh wood is strangely satisfying though.
I think I might be a woodaholic