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.
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.
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!
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.
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 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!!
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.
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!
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 😉🎸
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
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!
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
@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.
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.
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?
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
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 ?
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.
I couldn't tell if you were using a scraper or if it was a sanding block of some sort. I got the micro-mesh part but i'm referring to just before the final sanding. Would be nice if you wrote down your technique. I'm a big shellac fan and was hoping to learn a bit from this video but there's no accompanying description on the process. Looking for french polishing alternatives.
There is a detailed write-up of this process on my web-site at www.stansellguitars.com. It's a couple years old and needs to be up-dated as I have evolved certain techniques. I can tell you that I now use 120 grit on the bare wood before the first flood coat as this allows for the deepest penetration. I also use a scraper extensively along with 180 grit to level the flood coats and only then do I graduate to 220 grit for leveling between top coats.
Hi Les, Thanks for the great video. Your instrument is beautiful! Do you have any experience using Meguiar's Plast-X in place of the Novus product? I applied some to a scrap piece of wood over several coats of shellac and did not find that any immediate burn-through occurred. Thanks!
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.
@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.
At 4.54 there is the shellac on the top and no bridge --All of a sudden after 5.39 ish hello there`s a bridge fitted! What happened in between? Is the shellac holding the bridge on ?Did the shellac get scraped off or dissolved? We need to know .
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.
Everything about this video is exceptional. True artist at work.
Very very nicely done! Thanks for sharing
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.
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!
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.
This process and video are excellent. I have never done this with shellac but will try it.
thanks Sam
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 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.
Watching from Brazil, Thanks for sharing your knowledge, I had the same ideas, I'm happy to see that these ideas work!
nice process ! Thank you for taking the time and effort to share it all.
cheers
John Gavin
Excellent technique and demo. Thanks!
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.
Stunning work. I especially like the rosette, A beautiful departure from the classic. I only wish I could afford one. :)
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!
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!
Wow... How beautiful to watch. I sure would love to play that beautiful guitar :)
Beautiful looking guitar, the venue Rosetta is particularly nice and the finish is stunning.
That's a gorgeous finish! I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't realize sandpaper went to grits that high. Thanks for sharing!
Les i simply love this method.To date for me the best method,a great way and time saving
Absolutely exquisite guitars. And music!!!!
Beautiful guitar, nice explained process and great music - very relaxing and inspiring.
Your technique is much superior than French Polishing in terms of both quality and efficiency. Thanks so much for sharing this.
A clear demonstration of how patience is, indeed, a virtue.
You Sir, are a true craftsman! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Music by Vlatko Stefanovski and Miroslav Tadic,great job very nice guitar!
KILLER guitar ditty in the background!
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 😉🎸
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.
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
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!
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.
I like your technique for installing the golpeador.
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
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
This is badass frickin finishing 🔨
Stunning finish
I have much respect for Mr. Nelson.
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.
Thank you. I am just getting into shellac and this is a cool method
Yes, the flood coats are shellac and alcohol.
Excelente trabalho,gostei do video, parabéns, técnica perfeita.
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!
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.
Great Job! I like the rosete idea.
Técnica muito bem apurada, parabéns..
Beautiful video
impecable trabajo... gracias por compartir
That finish looks 😮❤
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?
I would think so . . . although I would always recommend trying new procedures on a test piece first.
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
Quiero unaaa !!! divina viola !! saludos desde Argentina 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷
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.
@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.
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
Beautiful 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.
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?
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
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 ?
Amigo, você poderia encinar a preparar essa goma laca especial que você usa? Da para perceber que tem algo a mais nessa goma laca!
very good video and very funny, especially the progression from 1500 to 12,000. Which apply before sanding, sealant or varnish is?
Cool my friend... Cool.
What's the song, please? Informative!
Excellent Workmanship. Is it possible to use Nitro Cellulose Laquer ?
Nice work man!
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.
didn't know the plastic polishers can actually be used on shellac, thank you
Are you sanding everything dry?
I have proplems to see if i removed al scratches from the previouis grit. Do you have an advice for this?
Greetings,
could you please tell me what type of flakes? how do you not get lines with shellac?
Beautiful work!
Although it wasn't shown in video, I'm assuming the back and sides received the same treatment as the top?
Not many people know how to do this. Shellac, alcohol and sumatra oil? Well done!
WOW , BEAUTIFUL
I couldn't tell if you were using a scraper or if it was a sanding block of some sort. I got the micro-mesh part but i'm referring to just before the final sanding. Would be nice if you wrote down your technique. I'm a big shellac fan and was hoping to learn a bit from this video but there's no accompanying description on the process. Looking for french polishing alternatives.
There is a detailed write-up of this process on my web-site at www.stansellguitars.com. It's a couple years old and needs to be up-dated as I have evolved certain techniques. I can tell you that I now use 120 grit on the bare wood before the first flood coat as this allows for the deepest penetration. I also use a scraper extensively along with 180 grit to level the flood coats and only then do I graduate to 220 grit for leveling between top coats.
Beautiful!
Would this work over a satin poly finish?
The greatest thing is that there is no need of oil! It's awesome!
Nice job!
Beautiful work. What's the time on a finish like this, and what was the dark liquid in the squeeze bottle?
In theory, the end result should be no different than French Polish, as "French Polish" is just the "technique" used to apply shellac.
What color shellac did you use? I tried orange but it didn't get close to as dark as yours.
How do you clean the shellac off the micromesh pads??? Alcohol seems to ruin the pads...
Hi Les. How long do the flood coats remain on the guitar before removing? Thanks, DJ
12 hours at 50% RH . . .
Beautiful guitar! What shade of shellac is this?
amazing guitar!! Ö
I swear, that is fucking incredible
Very nice work. How long did it take you to finish this kind of varnish ? Thx
Hi Les,
Thanks for the great video. Your instrument is beautiful!
Do you have any experience using Meguiar's Plast-X in place of the Novus product? I applied some to a scrap piece of wood over several coats of shellac and did not find that any immediate burn-through occurred.
Thanks!
The song is macedonian folk song called Jovano Jovanke.
Thanks for posting! Could you explain why you scrape the bindings at 1:25? Does the application of the shellac leave a lip at the edges?
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 :)
@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.
What color shellac should i use for an aged brown top?
Love the music too! any help on that?
How much of the sound of the instrument is afected by the final plastic cover ?
Negligible . . .
At 4.54 there is the shellac on the top and no bridge --All of a sudden after 5.39 ish hello there`s a bridge fitted! What happened in between? Is the shellac holding the bridge on ?Did the shellac get scraped off or dissolved? We need to know .
No magic John . . . just a little masking tape and a sharp chisel. Demonstrated on one of my other videos . . . "Bridge Building" I believe.
Can I used waterlox too sir.nice video demostration