Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey everyone!
So I've decided to finish my most recent mandolin with varnish (specifically Hope's tung oil varnish). I sealed the sunburst in with shellac then brushed on the first coat of varnish last night.

OK.... The varnish is dry now, but still sticky on the plastic bindings. It had to be plastic because I just haven't grown ones big enough to bend wood bindings around the scroll of an F-5 mandolin. Anyway...

Why would it still be sticky on the plastic but not on the rest of the instrument? Even if "petroleum distillate" (I think that is the solvent for this product) has partially melted the binding, wouldn't it have dried up by now?

Anyone have experience with this?

     Sometimes painting plastics causes the same problem. If the solvents dissolve the plastic you end up with a weird chemical mix that may never set up, or weaken the plastic. I know polypropolene does this bad!

      I don't have any personal experience with your combination, but Im sure somebody will chime in! I would of never thought a drying oil would do this!

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)