System Choice

For many years, nitrocellulose has been the preferred finish for such instruments. However, due to growing environmental concerns, more sustainable alternatives have gained favor. After thorough research, water-based lacquer was chosen, polished to a high sheen. While it does not produce the same mirror-like finish as nitrocellulose, the result is visually appealing and smooth to the touch.

Vibrancy Issues

One drawback of water-based finishes is their tendency to reduce the vibrancy of wood grain figure. To address this, a shellac base coat was considered. However, standard shellac is generally unsuitable for overcoating with water-based lacquer. Further investigation revealed that dewaxed shellac offers a viable solution.

Additionally, concerns arose regarding the potential darkening effect of shellac on selected timbers. To mitigate this, blonde dewaxed shellac—free from darkening agents and wax—was chosen as the optimal base coat at Philz.

Porous Grain

Following an initial coat of shellac sanding sealer, most timbers require a grain filler to ensure a smooth finish. Once the grain filler has fully cured, the surface must be meticulously sanded to prevent blotching from residual material left on the timber.

Top Coats

The final finishing process involves applying three coats of water-based lacquer, sanding between coats with progressively finer abrasive paper. Once the final coat has fully hardened, ultra-fine finishing paper is used, followed by a polishing wheel with rubbing compound to achieve the desired sheen.