Official Luthiers Forum!

I have been contemplating different satin finishes, similar to Martins D-15 or the Larrivee 03 series.
If you have a favorite, please discuss it and how you achieve it.

I understand McFadden's Nitro has a flatting agent to make theirs satin. Check the LMI sales page on finishing. I'm a gloss guy for now. By the way, how are you doing?

I did a gun stock in varathane and gave it a rub down with 0000 steel wool, I loved that look. I had a lot of compliments over that.

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

I don't tend to like wood finished with the satin version of finishes, but I do like a satin finish, or rather a soft sheen on my guitars. Never been keen on over-glossy guitars. The satin version of finishes usually rely on solids within the finish which can mask the detail of the wood.

I just use my normal French polish finish and after glazing, if I want a softer sheen I just give a light dressing with 0000 wire wool then hand buff, just using clean cloth to the finish I want.

As the guitar is played and used it will develop a patina, where it is rubbed. I do like my guitars to look as if they are loved rather than just spend their time sitting in a rack. Not scrathes and dents, that just shows lack of care, you know what I mean, finger stains on the fingerboard, slightly more shiny where the arm rests.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.