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Hesh, that's really quite nice.
Love the mahog...and here's where we are truly missing Colin's input. Can almost hear him extolling the virtues of that "timber".

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Beautiful work and obviously a natural skill, Hesh.

The wood...WOW!

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Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

Hesh, you're like one of those annoying guys who can pick up any stringed instrument and master it in about ten minutes.    You seem to have that knack for lutherie. Nice work!

Thanks Steve for the answer to Bill's question. You were quicker on the draw than I was.

I chose to use the still shot format in my DVD's. I feel it is highly effective in getting the point across and I can taylor my audio presentation to get straight to the point. I did however, use some motion video in the french Polish section of the finishing DVD as I feel it was needed to see how to load the muneca and see the actual strokes being made while applying the FP.
I have DVD's on 5 continents and have only had one person comment negatively about the use of stillshots instead of motion video.
In fact, here is part of an email I got just today praising the format.

Got the DVD's yesterday and have been about halfway thru the one on finishing. Excellent job Robbie! Your delivery and explanation is clear, concise and complete. I actually think the slideshow format is better than video - you're not distracted by some guy moving around and fidgeting or what not and can concentrate more on the info being conveyed.   
Happy Finishing!

Sweet, Hesh! Do you think this finish would be bad for someone who
sweats?

OK JJ, come clean, tell us how???? I must be getting dense because read instructions tonight on making a muneca and cant really underttand. Is it just a rag inside a rage, rolled up in a ball?

Rich...the inside is a piece of cheesecloth about 1" wide x 10 " long. Wadd it up into a 1"x 2" rectangle.

Make a 4"x4" square of fine muslin. Wrap the muslin around the wadd and it becomes something called a muneca.

Robbie's DVD really shows this best. I really can't stress following the DVD enough.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Looks Great Hesh, love the Mahog and the FP thus far.... so tell me my friend, will the next one be done with Ubeauts Hard Shellac??

Cheers

Kim

Looks great!!!
I missed this thread being out of town.
Great start. I have attemped FP on some boards , but not a guitar yet.
Some day soon
Andy

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

[QUOTE=azimmer1] I have attemped FP on some boards , but not a guitar yet.[/QUOTE]
Andy, that's the beauty of French polish. You can finish and refinish the same guitar for years until you get it right!

Hesh, I must apologize for being a little ignorant.

Upon my last post, I said-

[QUOTE=robertandsons]
There’s nothing like an oil rubbed finish to bring out the natural beauty of wood.[/QUOTE]

Though oil is involved with FP, after reading a bit more about it at LMI, I now realize there is much more to it.

Sorry

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Everything has beauty, But, not everyone see's it!

Speaking of oil, So far I’ve used extra virgin olive oil because I love it on my salads someone suggested walnut oil and it tasted so good on the salad I’m going to try it on my next FP.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Thanks Hesh and JJ. I have tackeled this new approach to finishing this weekend and having good success. Finally went back and read directions again and this article from the internet said to use wool - I was using cotton (for the center core). Well cut up a pair of old pants this weekend and now I have wool and what a difference. Also using drops instead of squirts of shellac - was putting way too much shellac on and causing all kinds of problems. Once I figured these two things out and with a little practice, I am pleasantly surprised at the results I am getting thus far.

One things becomes quickly obvious. With nitro you can get away with small defects and the nitro will fill them in. WIth FP you have to really do a meticulous job of prep and eliminate all the tiny defects because the shellac does not fill as well as nitro.

I also didnt realize you will probably scuff and buff when all is done and was constantly wrestling with some of the lines and unavoidable scars that happen when rubbing. If you stop for even a split second, there is as defect. I suppose the more you do the better you get and the less finnessing needed in the end.

Anyway, having a ball with this new developing skill and dont miss the smell of nitro, or the fact I cant clear in the winter due to no place to do it.

Thanks again for your response. Wish I had thought of that cheesecloth sooner - thanks JJ, will be trying that.

Rich...it sounds like you're "getting it". It takes practice to get the feel. Keep it up...won't be long before you can do it in your sleep! After 4 guitars completed now, I have much more skill and confidence. Next time we're together I'll even show you the secret FP handshake!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

It looks good Hesh...

The allure of french polish is that you have direct control over the results you get and can work on it over time without affecting what has previously been done. While it takes time and "elbow grease", I find it gratifying and tough to mess up as almost anything you could do to it is repairable.

If you are using loose wool (not from wool fabric) for a muneca, be aware that some wool felts and some do not. Wool fiber when looked at under a microscope has scales along the length of the fiber that when rubbed against other fibers catches and becomes tangles with the other fibers which is how felt is made.

My "wad" is made from loose wool but from a breed that felts easily so the more I use my muneca, the more it retains its shape and holds together. After one or two uses the wool is felt and not loose fibers anymore. I also use a medium weave linen for the outside of my muneca as too coarse and it will let out too much liquid and too fine and it will tend to not apply as much.

Since I build classicals I have always used french polish as my preferred finish. For those that are concerned over its durability and want a "tougher" finish I offer as an alternative, french polish for the top only and another finish type for the rest.

While I have done all kinds of finishing over the years, because I prefer FP and dont want to maintain the setup needed to spray, when someone wants something other than FP, I farm it out and focus on the top.

Shawn...when you use sprayed finishes on the B&S, in which order do you FP the top...before or after spraying?

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Now I am making progress. I think I am starting to get the hang of it. Was loading too much shellac at first and also too much oil. So now, with the wool muneca, t-shirt cotton for outer cloth, and only applying 5-6 drops of shellac and only a couple drops of oil directly on the cotton cloth, things seem to be better. In fact, I sanded the entire body, first with some 400 to remove some pimples and dips in shellac where I messed up, Then scuffed all the orange peel (not much) with 600 grit, damp not wet. Didnt burn through any where so looks like I had decent build up. Then using above practice, got it to a really nice sheen with no wipe marks or defects. It actually applies like a hand rubbed polish and also getting good halo effect as well. Smooth as a baby's but.

JJ...I dont know which way is best so what I do is mask the entire top with safe release tape and send it off for spraying. When I get it back I take off the tape, final sand and then FP.

It always seems like there is something that shows up on the top that needs to be resanded or fixed so I want to be the last one to touch the guitar before it is FP'ed. On the other hand, until I start the finishing process, I will string up and let anyone handle and play my guitars unfinished as it helps to play in the guitar and I know that no matter what happens to it I can sand or fix it.

Rich...It sounds like you are getting the hang of it. At some point it all starts to come together and it sounds like you have gotten to that point. congratulations...keep it up.

WOW!!!!!

Hesh--

The guitar is looking, well, just stunning! I too have found that FP is a very comfortable way to spend meditative time with a guitar. Can't really recommend pore filling with pumice though! No longer have the arm strength or the stamina for that.

Sounds like there must have been a road trip to Indianna. Any recommended purveyors of Everclear FP elixer -- with or without the straws!   

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Looks great Hesh! I had no idea you were French-Polish, I am Russian-Hungarian Sorry I will turn in my luthierie/comedy liscense into the Guild for that one.
Best, Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Jim, and other MGL folks. Next time I'm up that way let me know if I need to make an Everclear group purchase.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

[QUOTE=JJ Donohue] ...let me know if I need to make an Everclear group purchase.[/QUOTE]
They're gonna look at you funny when you say, "Yeah, give me a case of that!"