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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?

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.

Which is easier to repair??

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.

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.

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.

John,
Is the Ubeaut finish easily repairable?

yes with more u-beaut or even shellac