

French polishing - padding thin layers of shellac – is the most traditional and widely acceptable finish for classical guitars and historic musical instruments. French polished shellac finishes are thin and flexible, and are arguably the best finish for enhancing the tone of fine classical guitars. This finish is less protective or durable when compared to lacquers and synthetic finishes but its perceived better tone and ease of repair outweigh this aspect.
French polishing involves the use of a dilute solution of shellac and alcohol that is applied in thin layers by hand with a specially prepared pad. There are small variations to the process and materials used that are widely accepted, so each instrument maker works to find the technique/process that yields the best results.
We recommend our Shellac Solvent when mixing flaked shellac. FLCET16
French Polish Finish Instructions
Video: Shellac Overview and Use.
Video: Pore Filling with Sawdust.
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