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Thread: Mandolin Finish Help

  1. #1
    Registered User Hatter's Avatar
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    Default Mandolin Finish Help

    Good morning gentlemen,

    I am about to have a mandolin built for me and I am completely split on what to do for the finish. I have two different mandolins that I really like. The first one is a Blevins Mandolin with a burnt sienna burst and the second one is Chris Thile's first Loar mandolin. If I went with the burnt sienna I would do the nitrocellulose lacquer high gloss finish and if I went with Thile's I would do some type of satin finish, possibly tru-oil. Which one do y'all like better? Mandolin that is, not nitro or tru-oil finish.

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    Last edited by Hatter; Oct-24-2013 at 10:19am.
    Create like a god, Command like a king, Work like a slave. - Constantin Brancusi

  2. #2
    Registered User Bill Snyder's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Finish Help

    Why the different finish just because of a different burst?
    Bill Snyder

  3. #3
    Registered User Hatter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Finish Help

    Well with the burnt sienna I like the high gloss finish, but if I went with Thile's I like the more classic Gibson satin look.
    Create like a god, Command like a king, Work like a slave. - Constantin Brancusi

  4. #4
    Registered User Bill Snyder's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Finish Help

    You can get a satin look with nitro. FWIW the Loar era mandolins did not use it but Gibson started using nitro on their mandolins in the mid-20's.
    Bill Snyder

  5. #5
    Registered User Hatter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Finish Help

    Would you recommend the satin nitro finish over the tru-oil finish?
    Create like a god, Command like a king, Work like a slave. - Constantin Brancusi

  6. #6
    Registered User Bill Snyder's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Finish Help

    Are you are having an experienced builder build this? What finish does he normally use? If you don't know, find out. Ask him why he uses what he uses. Unless Tru-oil is his normal finish I don't think I would pick it. Its strongest point is the ease of application and the fact YOU could come back later and touch up the finish if need be.
    Bill Snyder

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    Hatter 

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