harp ukulele project - Gluing down the bridge...

Dave Bagwill · Post by **Dave Bagwill** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 7:18 pm

Man, that looks fine! Do you use the Milburn bros. approach to FP, or have you come up with your own method? I definitely want to learn the FP.

John Parchem · Post by **John Parchem** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:57 pm

I wrote a the process and put it in the finishing section. viewtopic.php?f=27&t=828&p=6458#p6458

Besides shellac I have used behlen qualasole and u-beaut hard shellac with good results, three years now on the qualasol and two years on the u-beaut hard shellac. With qualasole you can just pad it on (no oils).

Kevin in California · Post by **Kevin in California** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 11:00 am

John she sure is purty. Nice nice! I'm afraid of FP because of the lesser durability but that sure is purty!

Kevin

John Parchem · Post by **John Parchem** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 12:42 pm

Kevininca wrote:John she sure is purty. Nice nice! I'm afraid of FP because of the lesser durability but that sure is purty!

Kevin

I thought about that. Treated correctly shellac is very durable and easy to maintain. But the environment that a steel string guitar often finds itself in calls for a harder finish. This instrument falls into the treated nicely category.

U-Beaut hard shellac is a cross linking FP type of shellac that is very hard and durable and holds up against heat, alcohol and water. I used it on one classical guitar two years ago. I was able to French Polish using it just like I do with shellac.

There were some horror stories on the first release of the U-Beaut by the manufacture, but they have come out with an improved product. The back story on that is the original developer of the hard shellac licensed or sold the formula to the manufacture, who promptly eliminated the plasticizer that prevented the crazing problems. Essentially the current formula is closer to the original version.

John Parchem · Post by **John Parchem** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:14 pm

I am getting very close. I need to wait a few day to let the finish set, but I have finished the French Polishing. I should be able to get the bridge glued on this weekend and start setting it up.

TonyinNYC · Post by **TonyinNYC** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:19 am

That looks nice. Very beautiful instrument you made there John!

Kevin in California · Post by **Kevin in California** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:04 pm

The best word to describe it is YUMMY!

Kevin

Acoustic Guitar Construction

harp ukulele project - Gluing down the bridge...

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