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Thread: French polish and black top finish

  1. #1
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    Default French polish and black top finish

    I'm finishing my current mandolin build (my fifth) with a black top using lamp black and shellac. I started with about four ounces of two-pound cut shellac and added a teaspoon or so of lamp black, enough that it settles out overnight. I brushed on several coats and then wet sanded the surface to 6000 grit, leaving a hazy gloss. I stopped sanding because a couple of tiny breakthroughs appeared. Now I'm learning to french polish it to a higher gloss. At one point, I applied some shellac mixture to the pad and could feel the lamp black particles scratching on the surface. I replaced the pad and added the mixture (without stirring) only to the cotton wad inside to avoid anymore of that. So besides general comments, my question is whether I should continue french polishing with the lamp black/shellac mixture or blonde shellac only.

  2. #2
    Teacher, repair person
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    Default Re: French polish and black top finish

    If you have sufficient color, let it sit for a few days, and then you can finish it up with a few clear coats.

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  4. #3
    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
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    Default Re: French polish and black top finish

    Yup, black base layer, and regular FP on top.

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  6. #4
    Likes quaint instruments poul hansen's Avatar
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    Default Re: French polish and black top finish

    You can buy black shellac for pianos.
    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
    Hora M1088 Mandola.....
    Richmond RMA-110..... .Noname Bearclaw
    Pochette Franz Janisch...5 Pocket............Alfredo Privitera pocket
    Puglisi Pocket 1908........Puglisi 1912.......Puglisi 1917
    3 Mandolinetto ..............C.Garozzo
    1 Mandriola...................Cannelo G. Mandriola...Böhm Waldzither 1921
    Johs Møller 1945............Luigi Embergher Studio 1933
    Marma Seashell back......Luigi Embergher 5bis 1909

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