Official Luthiers Forum! :: View topic - Fixing a french polish oops

Have you tried re-glazing or "stiffing off" the affected areas? Make sure you fly in and out well, or you'll leave a mark that will require more shellac to fix. That should level it back out, unless it's really thick around the repair. If it seems to thick for that you can wrap some 1200 wet/dry around a rubber eraser and very carefully wet sand the area around the repair. I use a drop of olive oil as lube, go easy! you can cut right through in no time as you are well aware. You only want to sand the areas that are to thick, work very slowly and check your progress often. You just want to level those high areas out. The oil will come right off with a clean rag and some naphtha. After sanding level I polish it out with Novus #2 followed by #1.

Author:	Matt Shumway [ Tue Jul 19, 2011 4:04 pm ]
Post subject:	Fixing a french polish oops
So my #2 is pretty much done at this point, but I have a bit of an ugly spot on the top where I messed up the french polish, and was hoping for some suggestions on the best way to fix it. After I had completed the french polish initially, I glued the bridge on, then fretted. Because I am a newbie, I had to end up refretting a total of 5 times before I got it right. In between all of the extra planing on the fingerboard and recutting fret slots, and despite trying to protect the top during this, I ended up with some dings on either side of the fingerboard on the top. I proceeded to sand down through the shellac and into the wood to remove them. I then re-polished those spots. The problem is, is that all around each spot, where I still had the original shellac, I basically ended up giving it a double coat, while in the area of the sanding, its only a single coat. So in those areas the french polish is thicker and looks a bit mottled. Of course, I could sand that all away and re polish those areas, but then the same thing would happen all around the outside of my sanded areas. Two things I have thought of. One would be to just sand the entire top down to wood and start over. Another would be to sand out those spotted areas and when I go to reapply the shellac, deliberately leave a ring of bare wood around the outside. The idea being that the ring of bare wood will inevitably get shellac on it anyway, and maybe I would avoid putting a double coat on. I guess this is a lesson to me that's its probably better to fret the guitar, glue the bridge on, and get everything sounding nice before french polishing.... its just that I fear trying to french polish around the bridge and having it look like crapoola.

Author:	B. Howard [ Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:04 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Fixing a french polish oops
Have you tried re-glazing or "stiffing off" the affected areas? Make sure you fly in and out well, or you'll leave a mark that will require more shellac to fix. That should level it back out, unless it's really thick around the repair. If it seems to thick for that you can wrap some 1200 wet/dry around a rubber eraser and very carefully wet sand the area around the repair. I use a drop of olive oil as lube, go easy! you can cut right through in no time as you are well aware. You only want to sand the areas that are to thick, work very slowly and check your progress often. You just want to level those high areas out. The oil will come right off with a clean rag and some naphtha. After sanding level I polish it out with Novus #2 followed by #1.

Author:	Matt Shumway [ Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:24 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Fixing a french polish oops
B. Howard wrote: Have you tried re-glazing or "stiffing off" the affected areas? Make sure you fly in and out well, or you'll leave a mark that will require more shellac to fix. That should level it back out, unless it's really thick around the repair. If it seems to thick for that you can wrap some 1200 wet/dry around a rubber eraser and very carefully wet sand the area around the repair. I use a drop of olive oil as lube, go easy! you can cut right through in no time as you are well aware. You only want to sand the areas that are to thick, work very slowly and check your progress often. You just want to level those high areas out. The oil will come right off with a clean rag and some naphtha. After sanding level I polish it out with Novus #2 followed by #1. I did try that a bit, I think its too thick. I can definitely try to sand out the thick areas. I just was worried that I would do it unevenly and it would end up looking just as bad. But maybe if I combined that with some re-glazing..... Anyway, thanks, ill put that in the hat with my other ideas.

Author:	David Newton [ Tue Jul 19, 2011 8:58 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Fixing a french polish oops
You'll have to keep polishing until the low area is built back up. If it builds the area around the low area even thicker, then you'll have to level it all together. No use in sanding away good finish. The solution to all french polishing problems is always "more french polish".

Author:	WaddyThomson [ Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Fixing a french polish oops
Pretend like you are ignoring the light areas. If you concentrate on building them up, you'll end up with gummy spots from working them too much. If you work with them in the periphery of the working area, you won't go over them too much. You'll probably have to come back and do some leveling before you are done.

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Author:	David LaPlante [ Wed Jul 20, 2011 8:26 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Fixing a french polish oops
Remove it all down to a "spit coat" with alcohol and re-do. Ultimately the top will look far better, you will be satisfied, and you will have a leg up for the next one.

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