Re: "tinney" sounding "a" strings
Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 4:52 pm
Hi Rudy,
If you plan to refinish be very careful. It is very easy to go through the veneers on the surface. Old lacquer and shellac finishes often crackle. Test the finish first with alcohol. If the finish can be dissoved with alcohol you will have a much easier time doing the prep. Softening and wiping away the old finish and then very lightly sanding would be preferable to trying to sand off the old finish. Sanding that much you are guaranteed to go through the veneer. If it is lacquer I would use a finish stripper but do it carefully. Once you have the old finish off, you can seal the surface with a single coat of fresh shellac and then either varnish or lacquer over that. Let me know if you need more info on any of this. I'm always happy to help.
Ken Bloom
http://www.boweddulcimer.org
If you plan to refinish be very careful. It is very easy to go through the veneers on the surface. Old lacquer and shellac finishes often crackle. Test the finish first with alcohol. If the finish can be dissoved with alcohol you will have a much easier time doing the prep. Softening and wiping away the old finish and then very lightly sanding would be preferable to trying to sand off the old finish. Sanding that much you are guaranteed to go through the veneer. If it is lacquer I would use a finish stripper but do it carefully. Once you have the old finish off, you can seal the surface with a single coat of fresh shellac and then either varnish or lacquer over that. Let me know if you need more info on any of this. I'm always happy to help.
Ken Bloom
http://www.boweddulcimer.org