I like shellac. It's easy to work with, dries quickly, and the fumes are mild enough that I can apply it in the house. I melt shellac flakes in alcohol and put some in a little squeeze bottle, squeeze a couple drops at a time on a cotton-rag pad, and rub it on. A little walnut oil helps it go on smoothly. If the surface is prepped well, it doesn't take much to build up a nice gloss. Shellac is a natural material and the dried finish is non-toxic and edible. It does tend to melt at temperatures higher than 120F, and spilled whiskey could leave a mark, but it's easy to repair.
"Confectioner's glaze" is shellac that makes Junior Mints and Skittles shiny. If it's good enough for Junior Mints, it's good enough for me.
I've been using a finishing oil, which I guess is similar to the brands others have mentioned here (I suspect the brands that are well-known in the USA will be different to those available here in the UK). Then I finish off with a wax (from the same manufacturer as the oil), which gives a slightly higher gloss. I think the oil helps give depth to the finish while the wax fills and seals the surface grain.
I was always a poly guy, but grew dissatisfied with the gloppy nature of it and have reformed. I've been experimenting with Cabots oil. Probably very much the same as the Formbys. Multiple light coats of lacquer afterwards.
Cool guys. Yeah, I have been using Minwax PolyU for a while, but I'm not happy anymore with the feel of it when I play. Feels like it is causing too much resistance on the neck. Will try Formby's on the necks in the future. I prolly will stick to polyurethane on the box tho.
Wes -
Like Steve, I've been using the Formbey's tung oil on all the crafted wood (neck, external bracing, tailpiece - if any). Like he said - easy to apply and very forgiving. I've typically use a spray on lacquer for the box (wood and paper) to give it a little protection and I like the look.
Wes,
Just my 2 cents. I like using Formbey's Tung Oil Finish (High Gloss). Its easy to apply with a soft cloth. You can build the finish up as much as you like to get a higher gloss. Because its thinner, there's no worry about brush marks, drips, etc.
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Heh, funny!
Thanks.
-Wes
"Confectioner's glaze" is shellac that makes Junior Mints and Skittles shiny. If it's good enough for Junior Mints, it's good enough for me.
Thanks.
Like Steve, I've been using the Formbey's tung oil on all the crafted wood (neck, external bracing, tailpiece - if any). Like he said - easy to apply and very forgiving. I've typically use a spray on lacquer for the box (wood and paper) to give it a little protection and I like the look.
Just my 2 cents. I like using Formbey's Tung Oil Finish (High Gloss). Its easy to apply with a soft cloth. You can build the finish up as much as you like to get a higher gloss. Because its thinner, there's no worry about brush marks, drips, etc.