French Polishing part 1

Luthier Michael Thames demonstrates how to do a French Polish

[@JMichaelThames]

Thanks for your reply! I come from a guitar making tradition where for better or for worse we need a mirror like finish. Yes I could take months and work it in as you suggest, but this doesn't work for my purposes. I do state in the video that my approach is one of many ways to French polish. I use sandpaper after building up a body and this works very well for guitars. There is always more to learn in life and I appreciate your help, and expertise!

[@grb321]

Thanks for this excellent series of videos, which have allowed me to finally get the knack of french polishing, after months of practice and use of countless other sources. The close camera shots and detailed commentary are great. In my case, the problem was too much shellac and not enough oil. The technique of putting the oil on the guitar rather than the pad helped me in getting it right.

[@j.s.2419]

Thanks for doing these videos Michael. They're very helpful!

[@Josanizgeetar]

I have just finished my first guitar and thanks to your video I have found the courage to use shellac. After studying your video on French Polish I have taken lessons. Very instructief and your guitars by the way look beautifull. Keep up the good work.

[@159India1]

I am an ébéniste and French polisher trained during many years in Paris. This demonstration is not French polishing, but a hybrid version from a gentleman whom I would have been more than delighted to demonstrate the French way to do the polish, for I know that he would have been very grateful. It is too bad that the old retired artisans have no way of transmitting our knowledge.

[@BugsWisely]

I also enjoyed and "liked" listening to you play.

[@normantong3475]

French polish from Michael Thames guitar is one of the best !

[@davidsims1329]

I’m impressed Michael, a lot of builder say thing like there way is the only way. I like to stick with those there are allot of ways to do the job, but here is how I doing.

[@159India1]

A French polisher works the shellac onto the wood, which means to discharge from the pad (le tampon) its mixture while not burning the application. Between applications the shellac must. We do not sand to make corrections unless there is an uncorrectable problem. A French polisher can correct his own faults by working the shellac. French polishing is not simple and can take a long time to master. Again, I do appreciate your work. French polishing is a grand tradition to defend and respect.

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

Great channel and content. A pleasure to subscribe 💋💋

[@grb321]

I've since tried using an eraser as my pad, and it didn't work as well for me as the usual kind of pad. It seems that with the cloth-covered eraser the shellac is released quickly, making it easy to get a streak in the finish. With a normal pad I'm able to start the shellac flowing more slowly at the beginning and am able to keep the right amount of shellac flowing for longer.

[@SuperOlds88]

Any video that starts with Everclear can't be all bad.

[@motimenow]

I have trouble finding Walnut oil . What is readily available is Mineral Oil, not cheap stuff but found in our local Pharmacy store. I have used this oil of woodworking instruments in cooking like a tortilla press and it seemed okay, however I am not familiar with its use in this system of polishing. Joe

[@guitartec]

Micro-Mesh is awesome stuff. I use all the grits on various things, including finish and metal work. I'd be a salesman for the company if they'd let me. Nice video

[@lil_jitku6719]

Hi Mr.Thames. Thanks for you videos, they are very educational. I have some scratches on the top of my classical guitar and the colour of wood is not the same. Can you tell me how to restore the original wood colour, before the shellack finish? Mey I send you som pictures? Thanks again!

[@oseasmodulados528]

Muito bom pela qualidade este vídeo é excelente

[@changeindirection]

Hi, really appreciated your video. Is that always the right proportions for mixing the shellac? What kind of a cut is it? I think the simplicity in mixing is great. Thanks for sharing!

[@alkssmith9762]

Thanks a lot for this!

[@motimenow]

I hope that I can find this at our local Liquor Store outlet. Other than that, would "denatured alcohol" work for this procedure? joe

[@JMichaelThames]

Thanks John!

[@seanwsim-steam7676]

I’m currently French polishing my 2nd guitar (my 3rd build) and the last guitar I French polished ended up taking on the imprint of any material that it came into contact with. I chalked it up to bad / cheap shellac flakes. I purchased nicer shellac, and Now I’m French polishing my 3rd guitar and I’m currently bodying. I can tell this guitar is also going to have a soft finish and imprint like the previous one…any idea what could be causing this? I’ve asked around quite a bit and lots of experienced French polishers seem to be stumped as to why this could be occurring.

[@BugsWisely]

Does the walnut oil add color? I imagine a faint dark glow with super blonde patina.

[@Ottonic6]

Nice info. Seems pretty simple and strait forward... Never tried mixing my own shellac. Not necessarily with this project, but with others, it seems you should have used a respirator (joke). Thank you!

[@milance2111]

a am interested in first coats,how you apply them whith brush or with pad

[@mmichelson90]

It is illegal to buy Everclear in my home state, what would be some alternatives?

[@JMichaelThames]

You could distill your own, or just get Belhen's Bekhol, or the stuff in the hardware store.

[@johngolden4061]

Great!

[@supasoul20]

"rubbing alcohol" is usually isopropanol and water 70:30 mixture, and is not suitable unless it is pure isopropanol.

[@JMichaelThames]

There are many ways to skin a cat. This method works well for myself as well as for French polishing guitars. You most likely do furniture. Many of my customers comment on how beautiful my French polished guitars are. Please by all means set me straight, correct me, and tell us what I doing wrong.

[@thearabianmage]

Michael Thames I’m sorry to resurrect such an old comment, but I love your willingness to be proven wrong and learn from it. It’s how people grow. Anyways, I’ve heard that French polish is a very soft finish that isn’t suitable for guitars. Aside from the fact you f.polish your guitars, wha are your thoughts on this? Any pros and cons for f.polishing guitars? Regards

[@Bertziethegreat]

@motimenow denatured alcohol is what most people use.

[@JMichaelThames]

I don't know I've never tried it.

[@Goriaas]

You can use the alcohol from the hardware store no problem, no health hazards as long you dont make your booze with it....

[@Mandolin1944]

These days denatured or absolute ethyl alcohol no longer contains benzene -- other less toxic chemicals are used to break the alcohol azeotrope.

[@159India1]

Between applications the shellac must rest or cure. I am sorry. I have had to cut my entire description down to 500 characters. I had written too much.

[@159India1]

You may have a garden and perhaps grow tomatoes. You can buy heirloom seeds or hybrid varieties. They are not being “snarky” when selling you those hybrid seeds. They are telling you that they are modified. That is what I was meant by hybrid.There are not enough characters for me to explain very much here. If you are in New York I can meet or talk with you to help you. I am 70 years old and retired. I no longer have my workshop and don’t have the means to video a youtube segment. Sorry!

[@velcroman11]

I most cases "distilling your own" is illegal!. The coppers call it MOONSHINE!

[@JMichaelThames]

No it doesn't.

[@NGinuity]

@mmichelson90 Check out "refluxing still plans" on the internet. It's what home ethanol makers use a lot.

[@aa-vg9yn]

sorry but , slow and clear instructions on HOW TO TRANSFER DRY FLAKES to the jar ??? Not to put too fine a pint on it l;ol but ever heard of a SCALE ? too Doesn't even go other actually applying any coats to the guitar ? its like like a miracle happened

[@sclogse1]

I tell ya...the first thing I wanted to see was you using the shellac on the guitar, and you just bypassed the whole thing. Baffling.