***** Guitar Project Jigs, Tools & Techniques Online Resources Archives OLF Video Page Library of plans MP3 Library Inlay Class
Offical Luthiers Forum





And our community proudly sponsored by:

RC Tonewoods | Stewart MacDonald | LuthiersForum
TasmanianTonewoods | OLF | OLF MERCH
Luthier Suppliers | Pacific Coast Woods | ELEVATE
OLF X | Tasmanian Acoustic Tonewood | Luthiers Forum Store!
Luthiers Forum | OLF Facebook | AVAIL SPACE
OLF | Alaska Specialty Woods | A.Hix Tonewood
Duke of Pearl | Birkonium CNC | Space




Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Mon Jul 28, 2025 11:54 pm


Board index » Luthiers Forum Rooms » Guitar Building Forum

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Forum rules


Be nice, no cussin and enjoy!




Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
  [ 9 posts ] 
  Print view Previous topic | Next topic 
Author Message
Matt Shumway
 Post subject: I steamed my guitar!
PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 6:39 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 1:41 am
Posts: 160
Today after coming in from mowing the lawn I sat down to play a bit with my newly built guitar. I was, at this point, still a bit hot and sweaty. After about 10 minutes I went to get up and noticed that I had steamed a bit on the back of my guitar. I wiped off the water but noticed that I had, what looked like to me, raised the grain in that spot, and ruined that part of the shellac finish on the back!

This is a walnut back, and everywhere in that area that there was a little black line in the grain, it looked like it had raised up and pushed the shellac up with it.

I sanded it down with 400, then 1200, then went over it with some Meguiar's and fortunately it seems to be back to mostly normal.

My question is, it is normally that easy to ruin a french polish? Did I do something wrong in finishing it that it could get messed up that easily? I never did do the grain raise with alcohol then sand back like what is mentioned in the Millburn tutorial on french polish.. could that be the problem?
Top
 Profile  
 
fingerstyle1978
 Post subject: Re: I steamed my guitar!
PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 7:00 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 4:15 pm
Posts: 1701
First name: Joey
Last Name: Holliday
City: Palmetto
State: Florida
Zip/Postal Code: 34221
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
How many coats did you use?

I am no expert so I defer to the others who know, but I would like to avoid such a scenario in the future if at all possible. My La Patrie has a "custom" polish on the top, backs and sides with a matte finish on the neck. I love that guitar. I'd like to know what exactly that "custom" polish is though. It's very thin, yet it seems durable. Maybe a lacquer?

FP is great for the top because it is so thin, but for a guitar that I will be playing a lot, I'd probably like to go with something a bit more durable. at least on the backs and sides. Not sure how successful mixing and matching finishes is though. It works on my La Patrie but they may both be lacquer for all I know. I just know that I love that guitar.
Top
 Profile  
 
Haans
 Post subject: Re: I steamed my guitar!
PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 7:41 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:34 am
Posts: 3081
Think of all the old furniture with waterglass rings. Same deal.
Top
 Profile  
 
David LaPlante
 Post subject: Re: I steamed my guitar!
PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 7:55 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:51 pm
Posts: 1134
Location: Albany NY
First name: David
Last Name: LaPlante
Status: Professional
heat+moisture+new unhardened finish (can)=problem
Top
 Profile  
 
Matt Shumway
 Post subject: Re: I steamed my guitar!
PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 8:58 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 1:41 am
Posts: 160
David LaPlante wrote:
heat+moisture+new unhardened finish (can)=problem


How long do you think it will take the shellac to harden as much as its going to????
Top
 Profile  
 
Matt Shumway
 Post subject: Re: I steamed my guitar!
PostPosted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 1:03 am 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 1:41 am
Posts: 160
Filippo Morelli wrote:
fingerstyle1978 wrote:
FP is great for the top because it is so thin, but for a guitar that I will be playing a lot, I'd probably like to go with something a bit more durable. at least on the backs and sides.


Well that or treat the guitar with the respect the finish needs. A bazillion classical guitars are all french polish. It's not an issue of whether one plays them a lot - rather of how one plays them. Being all hot a sweaty, then sticking your body against the guitar is not recommended in any circumstance and especially with a french polish guitar.

The good news is that an FP finish is more easily renewed than any spray on finish.

Filippo



Yes well, lesson learned I guess. Didn't know FP was that wimpy! idunno
Top
 Profile  
 
Haans
 Post subject: Re: I steamed my guitar!
PostPosted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:09 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:34 am
Posts: 3081
Filippo Morelli wrote:
fingerstyle1978 wrote:
FP is great for the top because it is so thin, but for a guitar that I will be playing a lot, I'd probably like to go with something a bit more durable. at least on the backs and sides.


Well that or treat the guitar with the respect the finish needs. A bazillion classical guitars are all french polish. It's not an issue of whether one plays them a lot - rather of how one plays them. Being all hot a sweaty, then sticking your body against the guitar is not recommended in any circumstance and especially with a french polish guitar.

The good news is that an FP finish is more easily renewed than any spray on finish.

Filippo


Exactly. Think of all the times granny slapped you up the head for not using a coaster...
Top
 Profile  
 
sanaka
 Post subject: Re: I steamed my guitar!
PostPosted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 2:41 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:05 am
Posts: 168
First name: Rob
Last Name: Thompson
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Haans wrote:
Exactly. Think of all the times granny slapped you up the head for not using a coaster...

If you search, I think there are plans for a giant big-sweaty-dude guitar coaster made from a double layer of 3/4" plywood with green felt laminated on one side and an array of carwashing sponges on the other. You'll need to build a circle cutting jig, however.

;)

Peace,
Sanaka

_________________
...imagine there were no hypothetical situations...
Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
  [ 9 posts ] 

Board index » Luthiers Forum Rooms » Guitar Building Forum

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com