Posted on January 19, 2010September 9, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Brushing Varnish Questions: Brushing Varnish by Wade Lowe Originally published in American Lutherie #70, 2002 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Six, 2013 Ray Thompson of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania asks: What would you recommend for a good brushing varnish, either oil-based or spirit-based for guitar? Or do you know of recent written material on this? I have tried Behlen’s 4-Hour Rubbing Varnish. It did not seem to dry hard enough on test pieces. I tried the French polish (shellac) but now I’d like to try a brushing varnish for its ease of application as compared to spraying or French polishing. I have thought of trying to brush shellac. I read that if you do very thin 10% coats it can work. Then just fad level and spirit it off after build up. But that might be as tricky as French polish. I want a finish I can brush on, let dry a prescribed amount of time, steel wool it back; and repeat as necessary. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of the Articles Online featured on our website for Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. For details, visit the membership page. MEMBERS: login for access or contact us to setup your account.
Posted on January 6, 2010May 19, 2025 by Dale Phillips Review: Selected Articles from VSA Journal Review: Selected Articles from VSA Journal Reviewed by Ernest Nussbaum Originally published in American Lutherie #11, 1987 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume One, 2000 Review: Selected Articles from VSA Journal Violin Society of America 48 Academy St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Vol. VII No. 3. (All the articles in this issue were originally presented as papers at the VSA’s Tenth Annual Convention in November 1982, and include discussion based on questions from the audience.) Peggy Shipman: “Retouching: Methods and Materials.” Ms. Shipman’s paper mentions the use of water color; choosing the right wood for repairs and possible heat treatment for same, types of stains, color theory, the use of oil vs. alcohol varnish, pigments and coloring materials, and brush types. Herbert A. Wilson: “Space Age Technology for the Violin World.” Mr. Wilson manufactures an abrasive called “Micro-Mesh” which can be used for producing an ultra-fine finish on many surfaces including those of musical instruments. (The material is also sold on a foam backing under the name “Polysand.”) The paper deals with where, when, and how to use this material, how it acts on a surface, and how its action differs from that of other abrasives/polishing agents. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of our premium web content offered to Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. Members also receive 4 annual issues of American Lutherie and get discounts on products. For details, visit the membership page. If you are already a member, login for access or contact us to setup your account.
Posted on January 6, 2010May 20, 2025 by Dale Phillips Review: Italian Violin Varnishes by George Fry Review: Italian Violin Varnishes by George Fry Reviewed by George Manno Originally published in American Lutherie #7, 1986 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume One, 2000 Italian Violin Varnishes George Fry Virtuoso Publishers, 1981 Out of print (1999) Any book on making violin varnish, I buy. Halfway through most, I find my money would have been better spent elsewhere. Not so with this well-written conglomeration of facts, recipes, and chemical analyses. A novice with a little experience in varnish making will be able to understand Mr. Fry’s sometimes complex theories. Mr. Fry goes into great detail explaining each and every experiment he made to obtain color, transparency, and consistency of the varnish he thought to be used 250 years ago by the great Italian masters. Unfortunately, some of the materials used in Fry’s experiments are more scarce now than when the book was first published in 1901. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of our premium web content offered to Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. Members also receive 4 annual issues of American Lutherie and get discounts on products. For details, visit the membership page. If you are already a member, login for access or contact us to setup your account.
