ChuckBarnett
Well-known member
When I thought I was done I learned some things about French polish. I learned that you don't mess with it after you think you're done. The next day I masked and scraped to glue the fretboard down and the next day I masked and scraped and glued the bridge down. I now have some scuffs and some grooves where I sealed painters tape around the fretboard and bridge. I even have a fingerprint. I've tried to add some shellac into the ruts along the side of the fretboard thinking that perhaps I could build that up and then sand it back and clean it up. Not sure that's going to work. I'm thinking that this finish seems pretty soft. I see a new ding in the top and I wonder if the two weeks since I stopped finishing is enough cure time. I also have began noticing some grain or sanding patterns that I didn't see when I was done. Almost seems like I didn't sand enough, but I sanded up to 320 grit. I knew that of all aspects of building I would have the most trouble with finishing. It's almost like for people like me you should simply pay somebody to do that. But that bugs me and I would like to be able to do it if it's possible. I welcome your criticisms, as always.