I think Les's method for finishing is fabulous. I liked it so much I wrote it up step by step as I saw it and asked Les's opinion. Well, as you can imagine I missed a few things but after a couple of conversations, rewrites and spell checks, I think I'm pretty close. Les was kind enough to post this entire write up to his website. I hope this helps you as much as it did me. Les again Les!!
When i watch a video like this hoping to learn a more of a process in this case french polishing i feel more that i learn to appreciate the craftmanship the dedication and the art. Thank you for sharing
I`ve used shellac on small boxes as a finish. Just rubbing it on with a cloth, not actually French polishing. Its a lovely finish and is so hard and glass like. Not like some varnishes that are so soft you can put your nails in to it. Nice video!
Excellent video and process. Just Beautiful. A work of Art. The music in the background was perfect. It made me grab my guitar and play along. I pray your guitars play and sound as beautiful as they look. Your level of workmanship is what we always say, "Do your best. Always". Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your input James. I guess it comes down to what works for me. I've never owned or used spray equipment (and brushes are cheap). Brushing lets me to isolate each component (top, back, sides, neck & headstock). This allows me to heavily flood (pool) each surface insuring maximum depth of penetration. I believe this is much more critical for a shellac vs lacquer finish.
killer... i'm thinking of using shellac as a sealer for my ukulele. i've never been one to care too much about finishes on my own instruments, but i must say this is impressive to watch.
So, sort of a semi-French polish finish. Very smart. The time spent "bodying up" isn't worth it, and these results speak for themselves. Next time, I'm going to try this method. Thanks, Les!
Traditional french polish finish its really difficult but the result of your alternative is absolutely astonishing! And it's also the fastest way to achive an amazing result! I'll try it on the next guitar!
That is the best video , to learn the real secrets how to make your guitar look so amazing, thank you master , this is kind of video which makes you to subscribe without even been asked to do so 😉🎸
la neta mis respetos me imagino que eres profecional en esto la verdad te felicito desde el corazon de tamaulipas ciudad victoria y garcias por subir este video
Great job, thanks for shariing your giftings with us. Love your work. I'm gonna try the brush on my next guitar job. spraying is a beautiful finish but the difference is with the hand rub finish the pressure of the application causes the shellac to move deeper into the wood. The plus side is the no fumes part. Also touch up on french polish is very easy It does take practice, but I've never had a bad finish with french polish...on my 10th guitar
The title says: Hand applied shellac . . . an alternative to French Polish. But French Polish is hand applied! Your method of shellac finishing is awesome, so if I use regular shellac(standard shellac or unwaxed white shellac) and build up the finishing, i realy just need to sand it trough 12000 grit and than apply polish? It amazing!
The term is french polishing, there is not a product called French polish, it is shellac which comes from a beetle in southern Indian and Malaya. The method of applying shellac was originated by two brothers from france called Martin, in the 17th century it did not become widely used until they traveled to England and coincided with the use of Mahogany in the furnature industry a perfect finish for hardwoods. The method used was to apply shellac with a rubber, a cotton cloth folded around cotton wadding to apply a series of very thin coats to built up using varying pressure to achieve a mirror like finish but the the product is shellac.
After the first one or two "flood coats", the finish is removed back down to the wood . . .leaving a smooth even "foundation". Scraping the bindings (and the rest of the guitar for that matter) eliminates much of the initial sanding and saves sandpaper. The corner of the binding is later removed with the scraper, leaving a 45 degree chamfer. See my web-site for a more detailed description of the entire process.
Beautiful work. Without buffing, shellac is impossible to apply completely flat: a close inspection will reveal small streaks. One solution is to build a coat of shellac to serve as a barrier then finish with nitrocellulose. Thus the beauty of shellac is preserved, and the finish will not dull over time. Just my experience.
Fascinating! I will surely try this on my first project. It seems easier than doing french polish and it still yields a very good finish/gloss. What I wonder, though it looks awesome, is if it's tonally as good or better than french polishing and if it's more or less durable... I guess I'll have to try out! Thank you for showing us this method!
Yes, "French Polish" is hand applied, but there are many other methods to "hand apply"a finish . . . you are on the right track. But whatever method you use, the "Flood Coats" are the foundation and the key to a solid build-up.
LMI HAS ALL THE WOODS that all the Luthier's needs, I want to remember our second best Luthier's here in Puerto Rico that pass away Fidencio Díaz from canovanillas Puerto Rico.
Great, what is that at :029 seconds on the palm of your hands? Is the product at 4:16 in the bottle the same Naphta? Is the Naphta the only product you use other than adding some Grain alcohol at some moment? No other varnish nor oils?
Please tell me what kind of red colors I can add to my shellac to varnish my violin. Please refer to many colors because I am living in a small city without access to various materials. By doing so, I may find one of them. And please say your idea about saffron. Thanks.
Perdón muy buen trabajó pero la guitarra que muestra tiene un clavijero distinto ?? O eso me parece cuando hace el trabajo de cambiar la pala de la guitarra ya que no se muestra o es otra guitarra ?
I'm trying to use shellac on my bass guitar project and after the first coat I'm frustrated ( I though it will be done with one coat) thanks a lot for your video.I'm ready to sand my project and keep going,I wish it will come up good.
Couple of questions - what shellac cut are you using and what kind of flakes? Certainly looks easier than French polish. Not entirely clear about what materials you are using to apply the shellac? start with a brush for a seal coat and then to some kind of dauber or padding, but not using the pad like a french polishing 'rubber'. Clarify? That's some might fine grade sand paper :-)
when you first applied shellac with a brush, was that grain filling? is there any difference in preparing the shellac for filling than it is for making a clear coat? do you mix it thicker?
Very nice vídeo! I'm a classical guitar music fan, since I was six years old. I have a guitar which is with me over 30 Years or so. IT has some minors scratches, and will like to know which aré the products you used and where the y can be bougth. Dr. Leo Melendez-León. Could you pesase, tell me moré details. Thanks a lot! LML.
Hello! Is it ok to use an NGR penetrating wood stain on an acoustic guitar? I have bought one online but I'm worried it could muffle my guitar or something. The plan is to stain both fretboard and body and then apply clear lacquer top coat on the body
Such a pity theres not more information available with this video. Believe me its a lot more difficult to get this kind of finish that the video suggests and for beginners it would be next to impossible without the relevant instructions on how to mix the shellac and how much to use and how long to dry before sanding etc etc. Great quality but short in detail. Respect on your great guitars though .
@YatesInstruments . . . around two weeks in a climate controlled environment before Micro-Mesh and Novus polish . . . then 6 months to a year later, after the shellac has fully cured, do it again . . . or live with the micro crazing.
I like how the bridge magically appears after building up shellac. I thought the area would be scraped away or masked off to glue bridge directly to wood top.
Thank you Les. I'm a professional musician, and now trying to build some instruments for my own use. The quality and clarity of what you show in your site is helping me BIG time. I greatly appreciate it. Thank you!!
@1102etienne Not sure of the cut . . .the goal is to penetrate but still have "body" . . . around the consistency (to slightly thinner) of whole milk. For my pad, I use worn cotton wrapped around a flat absorbent material. And to be clear, I am not an expert on French Polish. I developed this alternative method as a result of my frustration with traditional French Polish technique. It works for me and holds up very well over time and I am always being complimented on my "French Polish" finish.
Really great work. Just question about bridge - adding it is not on video. Are you cleaning shellac under bridge before gluing? I think use glue on raw, clean wood give stronger connection, however I'm not expert.
Everything about this video is exceptional. True artist at work.
Very very nicely done! Thanks for sharing
I think Les's method for finishing is fabulous. I liked it so much I wrote it up step by step as I saw it and asked Les's opinion. Well, as you can imagine I missed a few things but after a couple of conversations, rewrites and spell checks, I think I'm pretty close. Les was kind enough to post this entire write up to his website. I hope this helps you as much as it did me.
Les again Les!!
Thanks for putting that together. I just happened upon your article on his site. It is very helpful.
When i watch a video like this hoping to learn a more of a process in this case french polishing i feel more that i learn to appreciate the craftmanship the dedication and the art.
Thank you for sharing
A clear demonstration of how patience is, indeed, a virtue.
I`ve used shellac on small boxes as a finish. Just rubbing it on with a cloth, not actually French polishing. Its a lovely finish and is so hard and glass like. Not like some varnishes that are so soft you can put your nails in to it. Nice video!
Excellent video and process. Just Beautiful. A work of Art. The music in the background was perfect. It made me grab my guitar and play along. I pray your guitars play and sound as beautiful as they look. Your level of workmanship is what we always say, "Do your best. Always". Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your input James. I guess it comes down to what works for me. I've never owned or used spray equipment (and brushes are cheap). Brushing lets me to isolate each component (top, back, sides, neck & headstock). This allows me to heavily flood (pool) each surface insuring maximum depth of penetration. I believe this is much more critical for a shellac vs lacquer finish.
Watching from Brazil, Thanks for sharing your knowledge, I had the same ideas, I'm happy to see that these ideas work!
This process and video are excellent. I have never done this with shellac but will try it.
thanks Sam
killer... i'm thinking of using shellac as a sealer for my ukulele. i've never been one to care too much about finishes on my own instruments, but i must say this is impressive to watch.
So, sort of a semi-French polish finish. Very smart. The time spent "bodying up" isn't worth it, and these results speak for themselves. Next time, I'm going to try this method. Thanks, Les!
Traditional french polish finish its really difficult but the result of your alternative is absolutely astonishing! And it's also the fastest way to achive an amazing result! I'll try it on the next guitar!
Stunning finish
That's a gorgeous finish! I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't realize sandpaper went to grits that high. Thanks for sharing!
This is badass frickin finishing 🔨
Beautiful looking guitar, the venue Rosetta is particularly nice and the finish is stunning.
Stunning work. I especially like the rosette, A beautiful departure from the classic. I only wish I could afford one. :)
Wow... How beautiful to watch. I sure would love to play that beautiful guitar :)
KILLER guitar ditty in the background!
That finish looks 😮❤
Absolutely exquisite guitars. And music!!!!
That is the best video , to learn the real secrets how to make your guitar look so amazing, thank you master , this is kind of video which makes you to subscribe without even been asked to do so 😉🎸
Excellent technique and demo. Thanks!
Les i simply love this method.To date for me the best method,a great way and time saving
You Sir, are a true craftsman! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Beautiful video
I'm actually finishing a table with shellac and this was quite helpful. Never knew 8000 grit sandpaper existed but will try to go as fine as I can
Micro Mesh. Cloth-backed, not paper-backed. Washable.
la neta mis respetos me imagino que eres profecional en esto la verdad te felicito desde el corazon de tamaulipas ciudad victoria y garcias por subir este video
Beautiful guitar, nice explained process and great music - very relaxing and inspiring.
Great job, thanks for shariing your giftings with us. Love your work. I'm gonna try the brush on my next guitar job.
spraying is a beautiful finish but the difference is with the hand rub finish the pressure of the application causes the shellac to move deeper into the wood. The plus side is the no fumes part. Also touch up on french polish is very easy
It does take practice, but I've never had a bad finish with french polish...on my 10th guitar
The title says: Hand applied shellac . . . an alternative to French Polish.
But French Polish is hand applied!
Your method of shellac finishing is awesome, so if I use regular shellac(standard shellac or unwaxed white shellac) and build up the finishing, i realy just need to sand it trough 12000 grit and than apply polish? It amazing!
I like your technique for installing the golpeador.
Your technique is much superior than French Polishing in terms of both quality and efficiency. Thanks so much for sharing this.
The term is french polishing, there is not a product called French polish, it is shellac which comes from a beetle in southern Indian and Malaya. The method of applying shellac was originated by two brothers from france called Martin, in the 17th century it did not become widely used until they traveled to England and coincided with the use of Mahogany in the furnature industry a perfect finish for hardwoods. The method used was to apply shellac with a rubber, a cotton cloth folded around cotton wadding to apply a series of very thin coats to built up using varying pressure to achieve a mirror like finish but the the product is shellac.
My flamenco is French polished, it was made for me in 2014. It has really come to life over the years.
I have much respect for Mr. Nelson.
Cool my friend... Cool.
Great Job! I like the rosete idea.
After the first one or two "flood coats", the finish is removed back down to the wood . . .leaving a smooth even "foundation". Scraping the bindings (and the rest of the guitar for that matter) eliminates much of the initial sanding and saves sandpaper. The corner of the binding is later removed with the scraper, leaving a 45 degree chamfer. See my web-site for a more detailed description of the entire process.
Nice work!
Thank you. I am just getting into shellac and this is a cool method
Beautiful work. Without buffing, shellac is impossible to apply completely flat: a close inspection will reveal small streaks. One solution is to build a coat of shellac to serve as a barrier then finish with nitrocellulose. Thus the beauty of shellac is preserved, and the finish will not dull over time. Just my experience.
very nice beautiful blonde finish. keep up the great work
Beautiful!
Beautiful guitar!
Nice work man!
nice process ! Thank you for taking the time and effort to share it all.
cheers
John Gavin
thank you Les
Thank you for sharing
didn't know the plastic polishers can actually be used on shellac, thank you
Fascinating! I will surely try this on my first project. It seems easier than doing french polish and it still yields a very good finish/gloss.
What I wonder, though it looks awesome, is if it's tonally as good or better than french polishing and if it's more or less durable... I guess I'll have to try out!
Thank you for showing us this method!
impecable trabajo... gracias por compartir
WOW , BEAUTIFUL
Nice job!
Yes, "French Polish" is hand applied, but there are many other methods to "hand apply"a finish . . . you are on the right track. But whatever method you use, the "Flood Coats" are the foundation and the key to a solid build-up.
Music by Vlatko Stefanovski and Miroslav Tadic,great job very nice guitar!
LMI HAS ALL THE WOODS that all the Luthier's needs, I want to remember our second best Luthier's here in Puerto Rico that pass away Fidencio Díaz from canovanillas Puerto Rico.
Quiero unaaa !!! divina viola !! saludos desde Argentina 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷
Not many people know how to do this. Shellac, alcohol and sumatra oil? Well done!
Excelente trabalho,gostei do video, parabéns, técnica perfeita.
Great, what is that at :029 seconds on the palm of your hands? Is the product at 4:16 in the bottle the same Naphta? Is the Naphta the only product you use other than adding some Grain alcohol at some moment? No other varnish nor oils?
Please tell me what kind of red colors I can add to my shellac to varnish my violin. Please refer to many colors because I am living in a small city without access to various materials. By doing so, I may find one of them. And please say your idea about saffron. Thanks.
It's shellac, so it is equal in durability to the best applied "French Polish". Everything depends on and is built on the first (flood) coats.
Técnica muito bem apurada, parabéns..
What sort of time scale was spent on that guitar , the video makes it look easy , my French polishing is improving but my first guitar took weeks .
amazing finish...please share the song in the back ground
Perdón muy buen trabajó pero la guitarra que muestra tiene un clavijero distinto ?? O eso me parece cuando hace el trabajo de cambiar la pala de la guitarra ya que no se muestra o es otra guitarra ?
The song is macedonian folk song called Jovano Jovanke.
I swear, that is fucking incredible
I would think so . . . although I would always recommend trying new procedures on a test piece first.
Awesome
I'm trying to use shellac on my bass guitar project and after the first coat I'm frustrated ( I though it will be done with one coat) thanks a lot for your video.I'm ready to sand my project and keep going,I wish it will come up good.
HI, can you tell me how that worked out for you, all these years later?
The greatest thing is that there is no need of oil! It's awesome!
I wish i can get this guitar 😍
Thank you.
Yes, the flood coats are shellac and alcohol.
amazing guitar!! Ö
Beautifull video :)
Couple of questions - what shellac cut are you using and what kind of flakes? Certainly looks easier than French polish. Not entirely clear about what materials you are using to apply the shellac? start with a brush for a seal coat and then to some kind of dauber or padding, but not using the pad like a french polishing 'rubber'. Clarify?
That's some might fine grade sand paper :-)
when you first applied shellac with a brush, was that grain filling? is there any difference in preparing the shellac for filling than it is for making a clear coat? do you mix it thicker?
Lindo trabalho amigo, parabens!
Very nice vídeo! I'm a classical guitar music fan, since I was six years old. I have a guitar which is with me over 30 Years or so. IT has some minors scratches, and will like to know which aré the products you used and where the y can be bougth. Dr. Leo Melendez-León. Could you pesase, tell me moré details. Thanks a lot! LML.
Que le puso será o aceite para pulirlo quedó bien padre
Hello! Is it ok to use an NGR penetrating wood stain on an acoustic guitar? I have bought one online but I'm worried it could muffle my guitar or something. The plan is to stain both fretboard and body and then apply clear lacquer top coat on the body
very good video and very funny, especially the progression from 1500 to 12,000. Which apply before sanding, sealant or varnish is?
Such a pity theres not more information available with this video. Believe me its a lot more difficult to get this kind of finish that the video suggests and for beginners it would be next to impossible without the relevant instructions on how to mix the shellac and how much to use and how long to dry before sanding etc etc. Great quality but short in detail. Respect on your great guitars though .
Can I used waterlox too sir.nice video demostration
@YatesInstruments . . . around two weeks in a climate controlled environment before Micro-Mesh and Novus polish . . . then 6 months to a year later, after the shellac has fully cured, do it again . . . or live with the micro crazing.
@stansellguitars Thanks for the answer, that is very helpful.
I like how the bridge magically appears after building up shellac. I thought the area would be scraped away or masked off to glue bridge directly to wood top.
That step is shown in detail on my ". . . Bridge Building " video. One way it can be found is on my web-site at www.stansellguitars.com.
Thank you Les.
I'm a professional musician, and now trying to build some instruments for my own use.
The quality and clarity of what you show in your site is helping me BIG time.
I greatly appreciate it.
Thank you!!
Very nice work. How long did it take you to finish this kind of varnish ? Thx
@1102etienne Not sure of the cut . . .the goal is to penetrate but still have "body" . . . around the consistency (to slightly thinner) of whole milk. For my pad, I use worn cotton wrapped around a flat absorbent material. And to be clear, I am not an expert on French Polish. I developed this alternative method as a result of my frustration with traditional French Polish technique. It works for me and holds up very well over time and I am always being complimented on my "French Polish" finish.
muy ilustrativos los vídeos
Amazing video Les! What pound cut shellac are your brushing on? dewaxed? How about when you pad on the shellac? 1 pound cut? thanks - beautiful guitar
Hi, beautiful work. I'd like to know how many coats you do before sanding at 220 grain, and how many coats to finish with the pad.
thank you.
There is a link on Les's website.
Excellent Workmanship. Is it possible to use Nitro Cellulose Laquer ?
Amigo, você poderia encinar a preparar essa goma laca especial que você usa? Da para perceber que tem algo a mais nessa goma laca!
I have done that on a set of homemade lamps. Not a French polish but only an expert would know the difference.
I’ve done that too!
Good 👍
Really great work. Just question about bridge - adding it is not on video. Are you cleaning shellac under bridge before gluing? I think use glue on raw, clean wood give stronger connection, however I'm not expert.
Please check out my "Building Bridges" Video for the answer to your question.
@@stansellguitars Watched whole and it was pleasure! Great work Les, of course all clear :)