Can you French Polish a violin?
Although you can use a French alcohol or French Polish technique at home, it’s better to have a professional polish your violin with these techniques if you aren’t 100% sure that you can do it correctly. The French alcohol polish method involves using mineral oil and ethyl alcohol.
What is the best finish for a violin?
Spirit varnish is commonly used for stringed instruments.
How do you do a French Polish finish?
Pro Tips for French Polishing Wood
- Start by sanding.
- Mix your shellac.
- Make your dabber.
- Start with your sealer coat.
- Fill in open grain with pumice powder.
- Begin to French polish in earnest.
- Spirit the finish.
- Repeat as necessary.
Should you polish a violin?
Each violin needs to be polished about once a year to remove the effects of playing and prevent damage. Wiping your violin with a soft cloth sometimes is not enough.
Can you lacquer a violin?
Most luthiers prefer the depth and control obtained from a good oil finish, though some spray-on spirit varnish because it’s easier and dries much faster. Both sound fine. The last option is french-polished shellac. this is the most beautiful, but intensely difficult to do on a violin, so it is not commonly done.
What is the mix for French polish?
French polish is a mixture of shellac and oil. Little oil is needed; it acts as a lubricant for the shellac.
What is the difference between French polish and varnish?
The finish is softer than modern varnishes and lacquers, and is particularly sensitive to spills of water or alcohol, which may produce white cloudy marks, as does heat damage. On the other hand, French Polish is simpler to repair, as opposed to traditional & modern varnish finishes.
Should I polish my violin?
What type of varnish is used on violins?
Varnishes for violins tend to be either oil varnish, or sprit based varnish (also known as shellac) and in this post, we’ll take a look at oil varnish. We know how good some old oil-based varnish recipes are because some renowned violin makers have been using varnishes based on centuries-old recipes.
Is shellac good for violin?
Shellac can be applied very thinly, which some violinists think produces the purest sound. Although softer varieties can be produced, shellac varnish is typically more brittle than oil varnish and can be subject to flaking and cracking.
What oil is used in French polishing?
olive oil
French polishers use many different oils, but the most commonly used oil, based on my experience, is olive oil. The second would be mineral oil, followed by walnut oil. Different oils bring different properties to the finish during the application and the long-term properties of the finish itself.
Is shellac the same as French polish?
French Polishes are made up from flaked shellac dissolved in methylated spirit. The type of shellac used can vary in colour from a light clear colour to a dark brown colour. Special Pale French Polish is a de-waxed Shellac and is suitable for use on both light and dark woods.
How many coats of French polish are needed?
It can, of course, be brushed on, as you would a varnish, and very good results are achieved by applying four or five coats with a polishing mop, cutting back between coats and waxing with a fine paste wax.
What are the advantages of using French Polish as a guitar finish?
The advantages of using French polish as a guitar finish are related to both the finish and the process. The beauty of the wood under this finish is undisputed, and it is generally regarded as the best finish for tone. Even with these accolades for the finish, the actual process, French polishing,…
How do I Make my finish ready for French Polish?
To make the finish ready for french polish, you’ll need: 2. Denatured Alcohol 3. A couple of glass containers – one for mixture, and another for filtering. (I use mason jars in this case). DO NOT USE METAL jars. 4. old t-shirt cloth or stockings (Used as a filter)
Is there such a thing as a French polish finish on wood?
While there are certainly other methods of finishing wood that produce a glossy finish—including varnish, polyurethane, and high-gloss stains and paints—none of those produce the depth and richness of French polish. RELATED: Is Varnish or Polyurethane the Right Finish for You?
How do you French Polish with shellac?
How to French Polish. 1 Step 1: Preparing the Shellac. Before we do the actual polishing, I would like to talk about the finish. The finish itself is a alcohol based finish 2 Step 2: Wood Surface Preparation. 3 Step 3: Make the Finishing Pad-pt.1. 4 Step 4: Make the Finishing Pad-pt.2. 5 Step 5: ‘Charge’ the Finishing Pad.