Luthier Tips du Jour Mailbag 30 - Shellac and sawdust pore fill

Luthier and Instructor, Robert O'Brien, answers a question about how to use shellac and sawdust as a pore filler. ‍obrienguitars.com
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[@Ibaneddie76]

THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST METHOD FOR PORE FILLING, THE SHELLAC ALSO HARDENS THE GRAIN AS WELL AS FILLING IT. YOU DON'T GET THAT WITH OTHER FILLERS. GREAT VIDEO.

[@emptyeff]

Excellent tip. I’ve been building my first dreadnought and have been thinking if this would work, lo and behold once again someone’s already done it

[@OBrienGuitars]

Great minds think alike! Happy Finishing!

[@miguelxorruno6196]

I tried it and indeed this way is much better than filling pores with pumice.AMAZING!

[@rogerbarrett5439]

thank you Robert for this video, i used this method on my ukulele it worked fabulous

[@Myopicvisions]

I just discovered French polishing and I have been putting off buying pumice powder. I'm definitely going to try this method first!

[@podluthier5451]

I just tried this method on a banjo I am building (hard maple neck, mahogany rim, Sapele headstock veneer and fretboard), and the results were quite pleasing! I had a 2 lb. cut on-hand and decided to try it, against your advice... as long as you move quickly, there isn't much tackiness. I also like that I can use sandpaper on the neck immediately after rubbing in shellac to create a slurry of dust that sets without having to add more shellac. Thanks for your great video!

[@OBrienGuitars]

Glad to hear it worked for you.

[@aze216]

Another great tip! You've saved me several times - most notably fixing the crack in a top of a guitar I dropped. I was kind of stumped in how to fill an area on the heel and this was the perfect answer just at the right time. Thanks for all your generous sharing of knowledge.

[@OBrienGuitars]

You are quite welcome. Glad you are finding my videos useful, Happy Building!

[@lucianobonavino5295]

Well done Master. Very useful information and better explanation.

[@kokeskokeskokes]

Thank you, very useful indeed. I've just tried it. Three things: - it worked for me - compared to epoxy it is incredibly fast, even compared to superglue - i need to substitute acetone for alcohol for polishing, my present mixture dries instantly on me

[@OBrienGuitars]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching.

[@5000loto]

I’m about to finish up a 0012 Fret in old growth walnut. The last one I filled with CA glue. Worked well but was a pain. I’ve tried shellac and pumice but couldn’t generate enough wood/color. I’ll give this a try. The walnut is VERY porous. Thanks for the tip.

[@madgeniusmusic]

Great video as always, thanks Robbie.

[@rouxlaki]

Hi , what is the ratio of shellac and alcohol that you use here please? Nice method I want to try it with sealing alder wood. Thank you!!!

[@mvecellio1]

Great tip. Thanks Rob.

[@wdcustomguitars5336]

Doing this for the 5 time right now

[@JoseEduardo-vb6ko]

Obrigado por responder. Admiro muito seu trabalho. Vou procurar os vídeos no seu canal.

[@natanborges5983]

Tenho Grande alegria em ver suas vídeoaulas

[@OBrienGuitars]

muito obrigado!

[@LefterisKalantonis]

Hello Robert! That's one great method for pore filling. How stable is it? Have you seen any shrinkage of the material in the pores over time?

[@walterrider9600]

thank you great idea

[@samhunt3201]

Great video 😊 thank you

[@OBrienGuitars]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching.

[@ecaff9515]

Great video Thanks for sharing

[@RNicolasRuvalcaba]

I'm planning on using Mohawk Modified Tung oil on a maple electric guitar neck. I've heard good things about the

[@td4yd154]

Does this work with glitter? (Serious question)

[@haroldrull4943]

Can you actually use an older shellac that has been in closet for a year? If so would you add any alcohol to make it usable? Thanks , you have a lot of helpful videos on musical instruments.

[@OBrienGuitars]

As long as the flakes dissolve completely in alcohol and the solution dries when putting on a surface then it will work.

[@reijerlincoln]

Excellent!

[@jim9637]

Thanks for the video Robert. I have 2 questions: Have you used this method on the body, and could you also use sanding sealer instead of shellac?

[@OBrienGuitars]

I have used this on the body. It works well. If you use sanding sealer I would dilute it considerably. Also the beauty of using shellac as the binding agent is that it is compatible with most topcoats. I can't say that about sanding sealer.

[@stephenbrown2922]

Thanks, just what Ineeded to know.

[@kedocom]

Can this be applied over stained wood or will it pull up the stain? Could it be used with tinted shellac to tint and pore fill at the same time?

[@OBrienGuitars]

Yes, use a one pound cut of shellac and work dry.

[@kedocom]

@@OBrienGuitars Thank-you!

[@micdunsmore3553]

Robert, would you use this method or any other to fill a sitka spruce top before applying a water based lacquer?

[@OBrienGuitars]

Sitka is a non porous wood so no filling needed.

[@lawcch]

how do you repair dented soundboard or cover up a hole on the soundboard or back or side of the guitar? I never see any video on KZbin which luthier can paste up a hole in the soundboard.

[@XxIzhtarxX]

hi Robert, i have a question for you, when you glue up 2 parts of wood for making a guitar electric body {I}, which one is the best place for leave the join in the model of the new body, i mean if you leave the join in the middle, that will affect the join with the neck, but talking about structural design, where do you prefer it

[@OBrienGuitars]

***** I prefer it in the middle.

[@XxIzhtarxX]

thank you, by the way, what kind of paint do you use for make the glass finish in the guitar body? i usually use epoxy for my woodwork but i guess isnt going to work well in guitars

[@OBrienGuitars]

***** I use a variety of finishes including lacquer, urethane or polyester.

[@sapelesteve]

Great tip as always! I will assume that this technique can be used for the back/sides of the guitar as well prior to doing a French Polishing using Shellac? Thanks again, Steve

[@OBrienGuitars]

Yes it can.

[@MrJUNNY7777]

Hi!! My Master! I want to know if there's a way to keep the natural spruce color of the top without get the yellow kind that it take when it paint it? 🤗

[@OBrienGuitars]

Yes there is. If you use a lacquer topcoat you tend to get an amber color. If you use a polyurethane topcoats (especially oil based) you will get yellowing over time. The only way I know of to keep the spruce color original is to use a water white product with UV protectors in it.

[@MrJUNNY7777]

@@OBrienGuitars Thank you very much for your fast answer Master, I'm trying to make my first clasic guitar and I'm very ignorant in the matter 🤗

[@OBrienGuitars]

You might try using my online classical guitar building course. I am sure you will find it useful. obrienguitars.com/courses/classical

[@MrJUNNY7777]

@@OBrienGuitars the shellac is after or before the white water base with uv protector🤔 Or the white paint only and no shellac?

[@OBrienGuitars]

Water white mean transparent. It doesn't mean the color is white. Most of these type products have their own sealers. I would use them and not shellac as a sealer.

[@StonefieldMusic]

Very cool tip. I'm wondering, strictly from a scientific point of view, do you know why the end grain dust colour matches better than dust off the sides of the board?

[@OBrienGuitars]

AKDsLB1 Its not that the end grain matches better than the top and side grain but rather that the end grain is very fine dust.

[@tacotes16]

what tipe of cedar?

[@elkeseaplana]

Hi Robert, What size of sandpaper grain shall we use for the dust collection process? Thanks

[@OBrienGuitars]

+elkeseaplana 120 is fine but it doesn't really matter since you are sanding the end grain.

[@elkeseaplana]

+OBrienGuitars that makes sense, thanks Robert!

[@tasekraban2710]

Can i stain after pore filling?

[@OBrienGuitars]

Depending on how much shellac you leave on the surface the stain will not penetrate much. I would do some sample boards to see if you achieve the desired results.

[@nomdeplume8393]

Thanks for this enjoyable video Robert. I'd like to know: is it possible to apply a pure tung oil coat to an unfinished (new) maple guitar neck before using this shellac stage demonstrated here, successfully? Thanks in advance and Regards, Nom

[@OBrienGuitars]

I suppose it is but my question is why not do it the other way around?

[@nomdeplume8393]

I'm assuming the shellac would act as a 'sealer' and prevent the oil from penetrating the wood. Do you think that would be unlikely?

[@OBrienGuitars]

That is probably the case depending on how much shellac you use to seal the wood.

[@nomdeplume8393]

This is what I thought. Do you think therefore that the shellac would effectively seal in an oil coat/s? Would either way combined be worth pursuing or would you say just opt for either shellac or oil?

[@OBrienGuitars]

shellac will seal in oil. I am not sure what you want here. Do you want an oil finish or a shellac finish? I do not think it is necessary to do both.

[@yrulooknatme]

do the same thing with pumice?

[@OBrienGuitars]

Using pumice is a different method than what I show here.

[@JoseEduardo-vb6ko]

Oi Robert! Que tal colocar legendas em português, nos seus vídeos, para seus amigos aqui do Brasil? Grande abraço!

[@OBrienGuitars]

+Jose Eduardo de Oliveira Jr Oliveira Meus videos originais do Tips du jour tem legendas em portuguese. Mas meus videos Tips du jour mailbag não tem. Da muito trabalho!

[@alex.username]

+OBrienGuitars Just out of curiosity, you don't seem to be brazilian. What about you knowing portuguese?

[@OBrienGuitars]

+Alex Souza uai xente! Morei no Brasil bicinho.

[@dudusantos6468]

+OBrienGuitars madeira de pinus é boa para fazer braço de violão?

[@OBrienGuitars]

+Dudu Santos eu não acho que presta para braço de instrumento não.

[@dudusantos6468]

quero saber se madeira de pinus serve para fazer o braço do violão?

[@fernandoizelli7598]

Dudu Santos não é adequada por conta de suas propriedades. Se for para usar madeira que consiga comprar em madereiras aqui no Brasil, o mais interessante é usar cedro rosa para o braço.

[@yowech]

HI Robert! Wonder does this method apply the same with oil finish?

[@OBrienGuitars]

Yes, It can go under an oil finish if that is what you are asking.

[@piedpiper1000]

how to bring dents out of table

[@OBrienGuitars]

Stuart Bennett Try moisture and or heat.

[@rgvarela42]

What is the recipe for one pound shellac? I'm very interested in trying this out. Thanks for posting this video.

[@OBrienGuitars]

rgvarela42 1 pound of flakes to 1 gallon of alcohol but I mix it in the proportion of 1 oz of flakes to 8 oz of alcohol.

[@cp_guitar]

Do you think this would work okay with Minwax fast drying polyurethane (maybe it would need thinned)? I intend to do a test, but wanted to ask in case anyone has already tried.

[@robertbarker2458]

You can use shellac as a pour filler than polyurethane over it as your finish it work really good

[@devid7726]

Hi Mr Brian. Much greetings for you and great thanks for the wonderful videos you give to us. I did not quite understand the ratio of alcohol and shellac, whether it was 1: 1 or? Thanks in advance for the answer, I am just finishing my first guitar and this is very important for me to know. Thanks.

[@devid7726]

In the meantime, I found the answer to my problems right here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n527mZuCf9ejp6c .. A very nice and useful video. Thank you very much one more time.

[@dudusantos6468]

pine wood used to make guitar arm?

[@mickkennedy1344]

Have you ever accidentally left that 'salt' shaker on your kitchen table -- then wondered why your steak tastes funny? :)

[@OBrienGuitars]

Can't say that I have.

[@bones8057]

Great vid thanks. What grit is on your belt sander?

[@OBrienGuitars]

120 grit

[@bones8057]

@@OBrienGuitars Ok thanks. I'm just now trying my first guitar finish with French polish and I will try this technique for the grain fill. Glad I found your vid. Thanks again!