This guitar is in the finish room waiting for the sealer to dry so I can put the porefiller on before supper.

These pics showed me I wasn't done sanding and the the heel tip was slightly off center, which it no longer is, or is at least less obviously so.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/Greg/head1.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/Greg/donefrone.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/Greg/donerear.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/Greg/doneheelcap.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/Greg/donegraft.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/Greg/donedots.jpg

First coat of oil varnish on the classical:

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/Greg/firstcoat.jpg

I am just enjoying this thread very much, with no contribution or comment except the obvious: the guitar looks just beautiful and the craftsmanship seems amazing to my heathen eyes.

Bruce, if I ever win the lottery, I’ll be talking to you about building one for me!

I wouldn’t wait too long. Thank you for the vote of confidence.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/Greg/2ndcoatfront.jpg

This varnish is beautiful, to me.

I always love pictures of before finish and then as the coats are applied. Such a stunning difference, really makes everything pop!!!

Sadly, the only photo evidence that subsequent coat reveal is less obvious pores. That’s why I don’t usually show more photos until the guitar is strung. This guitar currently has 9 coats of varnish and is looking pretty good. Now we have to wait for a month or so while it cures and hardens up so there will be no further shrinking after buffing it out to the gloss patina it will eventually have.

Bruce,

Are you using Epifanes + accelerator + thinner for your varnish?

No, you are probably thinking of Laurent.

Yep, I got you guys mixed up. As I recall, you used to use Ace varnish. I can’t find it at all. Are you still using it, or have you found another? I’m currently in search of a non-nitro, non-waterborne finish and I’d love to know what you’re using.

Somehow I missed this last post. My local Ace Hardware (Tomassini REX Hardware in Petaluma, CA) has the varnish I favor on the shelf for sale when I looked just days ago. I cannot see why any other ACE couldn't get it for you. I am also fooling around with Murdoch's Alkyd 500 gloss floor varnish, and find the two can be mixed to adjust the hardness of the film.

The classical guitar this thread features is now through the curing process, and I have in fact buffed it out to a beautiful luster. In the next couple of days I will make and install a bridge, install the tuners, and put on a set of strings. It is my plan to deliver it on Friday 1/17.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/Greg/buffed1.jpg

Strings tomorrow, I think:

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/Greg/bridgeison.jpg

Very nice work. Are you using shellac as the sealer that you mentioned pre varnish? Have you ever had any issues with varnish not drying on rosewood?

Your finish looks superb.

Adam

Oil finish on the bridge? I like that aesthetic - haven't seen it before on a classical.

The bridge is not finished with shellac and/or varnish, thought he rest of the guitar is.

All or most of the varnishes I’ve used will have drying issues over many rosewoods I and ebonies if the wood is not sealed. I do use Zinnzer “SealCoat” (shellac IMO) for this purpose.

Thank you for “superb”, hard to beat that!

I did string the guitar today, and while I don’t like to judge a guitar in the first 24 hours, it is sounding very promising. The customer, Greg Maloney, came by and tried it out. He’s pretty excited. He’s bought a number (6?) of my my guitars over about a 12 year period, but this is the first one I’ve made for him. I don’t think a person can bond with a guitar in the same way when they merely buy it as compared to what happens when it is commissioned, particulrly when one participates as fully as Greg has.