Fellow builders--I have a "kicker" mandolin that I have stripped the finish off of the top and back of neck. I plan to leave the neck alone(for smoother feel) but have put a thin layer of shellac spray over the top twice(for protection) and fine sanded with 0000 steel wool to smooth out the roughness. I'm considering the stew-mac colortone liquid stains for a sunburst finish on the top. Should I mix the stain with alcohol or water before applying over the shellac protective coat?? I'm not looking for perfection, just protection, and not a bad chemical reaction.
As a player, I'm a firm believer in a nice thin finish for great "breathability" and for tone and volume.
Any advice is greatly appreciated!!
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