Hi Folks,
First post here (or first for many years anyway), very glad to be here! I have a query about the finish on my 1993 Flatiron, Bruce Weber-signed F5.
The instrument is finished in a dark brown chocolate colour and the 'laquer' seems to be something quite thick and brittle. Lots of what I think are finish cracks and crazing and a few chips on corners here and there, in particular around the heel cap where the thickness of the finish is quite apparent.
Using a torch it's very clear that this thick, brown finish is obscuring some beautiful fine-grained spruce on the top and finely flamed maple on the back and sides. After reading a few 'refinishing threads' I'm vaguely considering the possibilities for removing this dark brown finish and maybe redoing it in something much lighter (in both weight and colour) - maybe french polish shellac or some sort of catalysing oil ('Tru Oil'?). Motivation is about appearance, but also thinking of the possibility of enhancing the sound as it does seem a but constrained.
These thoughts are all very tentative at this stage as it's my only mandolin atm and I'd need to get my workshop thoroughly reorganised beforehand.
So what I wanted to ask was:
- what would this thick, brittle finish on the F5 would be? Nitro-cellulose? Some sort of poly finish?
- would the dark brown stain be in the finish itself or would it have been applied directly to the wood (and hence maybe harder to remove)?
- what would be the best approach to finish removal? Chemical stripper? Alcohol? Simple 'abrasion'?
Thoughts and insights would be much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Sam.
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