Finishing with hardened shellac

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Augustguitars
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Finishing with hardened shellac

Post by Augustguitars »

I was wondering how hard and durable "hardened shellac" actually is compared to a nitrocellulose finish? luthiers mercantile sells a product called hardened shellac. It is easy to use, just French polish it on, but I was wondering how durable it is. Anyone know for sure?
tippie53
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Re: Finishing with hardened shellac

Post by tippie53 »

after 173 guitars I tried many finishes. I still use Nitro. Shellac is not a bad finish but nitro is more durable. I think the hardened shellac would be my 2nd choice for steel strings.
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
 

Re: Finishing with hardened shellac

Post by   »

Which is easier to repair??
tippie53
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Re: Finishing with hardened shellac

Post by tippie53 »

don't know . Nitro is easy I guess Brian Howard may have some experience. It depends on what they use . Plain Shellac and Nitro have a back door and allows repairs relative easy.
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
B. Howard
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Re: Finishing with hardened shellac

Post by B. Howard »

What do you mean when you say "hardened " shellac? What has been added?. If you are talking about the U-beaut stuff, my advice is to stay away from that, Have heard to many horror stories about crazing and other problems with that finish on guitars.
You never know what you are capable of until you actually try....

Brian Howard
www.brianhowardguitars.com
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Custom finishing services

Brian howard's guitar building & repair blog
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johnnparchem
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Re: Finishing with hardened shellac

Post by johnnparchem »

There were two formulations of U-beaut. There first commercial version did crack and craze. The second formulation does not have the same issues. The story I heard that the product sold now is closer to the product made in Australia before it was sold to the current manufacture. They had removed the plasticizers from the original formula and then added them back in for the current product.

I used it to French polish a classical guitar and it came out very nice. The guitar is a few years old and the finish is still very nice. While French polishing the product did act like shellac.
 

Re: Finishing with hardened shellac

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John,
Is the Ubeaut finish easily repairable?
johnnparchem
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Re: Finishing with hardened shellac

Post by johnnparchem »

yes with more u-beaut or even shellac
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