Official Luthiers Forum!

Thanks for the links, guys!

I think the traditional Spanish method is for the luthier to send the guitar to somebody else for polishing!
Sounds like a great idea- too bad I can't afford to do the same!


Cheers
John

I just could not believe how he just pours the shellac onto a big pad and goes for it.
He has an "interesting" approch to tap tuning on his other flamenco building video.

So much for a reasonably dry muneca!

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Just spent a couple of days last week watching Ed Claxton french polish a classical. His process was...a little different, to say the least. I guess there is more than one theory out there. The method in the video looks a lot faster but I think I like Eds' method better.
Tim

There are, apparently, many versions of the application of shellac that may or may not be called French polishing. Not sure if a purist would call his process French polishing, or hand rubbing shellac. Could be either. You can brush it on and spray it on too. Is that French polishing? I guess the point is, do what ever works for you. I believe our Guru on FP process might feel that his process was a bit short of a full FP process. His mix looked pretty "thick" compared to what I use, and he certainly wasn't counting drops. That said, I have watched David La Plante do his version of French polishing, and it is very effective. It might not pass the "process" police inspection, but the result is spectacular. So, as the Padma says; "What ever gets the pig clean!"

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

"To be a French polish application; One need to be melting the previously appied shellac and working in the newly applied shellac into the previously applied in a circular or figure eight motion to create a singular amalgamated film. Anything that does not do this; can not truly be called a French polish application. For this is the essens of the process."

I am at work and can not view the U-tube video at pressent so I am not sure if the the so called Spanish method meets the test. Please be sure to note that I am not saying that brushed raged, padded or sprayed shellac finishes make for poor finishs. They all make good finishes, I am only saying "French polished" implies a specific application method of building the film thickness and glazing application to polish (burnish) the film to a desired sheen.

regards
A French Polish Traditionalist

So folks that apply shellac with straight line 'strokes' are not 'French Polishing' ?
It does sound a bit dogmatic, but one must draw the 'line in the sand' somewhere........

The so-called 'Spanish method' was referred to in jest, I think...the luthier in the video was using a small electric buffer to work on shellac that was applied by pouring into an open rag held in the hand.
I think we can all agree: that method is non-traditional!!

OK I saw the video; I saw one and only one session applied very wet in combination of long straight strokes and big circular strokes then spirited off with alcohol. If all of the boding sessions are repeated the same way; while I feel this is lacking in effective coverage and amalgamation I guess I feel that this can be considered French polish because this process of adding shellac would remelt the previously applied shellac to some lessor degree than traditional process does and the circular motion would amalgamate the new shellac, though to a lessor degree than traditional process does into the previously applied shellac. Therefor it meets the definition of French polishing body build up. That said there was nothing shown in terms of glazing the film to achieve sheen.

This to me is a hybrid of ragging and French polishing and likely to produce a reasonable good finish. That said it is a short cut hybrid French polish at best. But wounder why they don't call it Spanish polish as it is not traditional French polishing

Maybe this guy was originally from France.