Double Bass propolis ground

[notabene]

Has anyone here used a propolis ground on a bass? If so, about how much, by weight, purified propolis would I need to coat a bass?

here is a link to the process I'm interested in:

Terpene Violin Varnish and Propolis Soap--Used as a Ground for Violin Varnish

3/4s down the page

Steven

 

[notabene]

Let me broaden the topic, please. Any thoughts on grounds in general? Egg white and pumice, vernice bianca? Casein? Others?

Steven

 

[Damon Rondeau]

Have you tried a search, n.b.? The topic has certainly been discussed here, but not in quite some time and not by people who are still regular participants around here. Specifically, see if you can find any posts by Bob Branstetter kicking around -- I'm positive Bob was involved in a ground discussion that mentioned propolis. This is going back perhaps 6 or 7 years, though. Maybe more.

 

[uprightben]

I am very interested in the same process as well, but i have yet to try it. The only homemade ground I have seen used is one that is basically myrh in water. It required tanning under UV light, and makes the wood look like its been tanned for a year or two, a nice light yellowish brownish color. Looks good under volitile oil varnish. The guy I work for uses some stuff made in belgum that cast something like $300 an ounce, and we suspect that propolis is a major ingredient, but have no idea really. It gives an orange color that looks very good under red varnish, it gives that yellow under red effect.

If you make the propolis soap, please let me know, I'd love to hear about it.

 

[MIKMAN]

I started my violin building projects using some homemade grounds, pressumably "secrets" of distinguished luthiers etc. After some dissapointing results i tried some well known products, purchased either by Hammerl or by some other specialized stores. These grounds were of impeccable quality and contributed a lot to the quality of my finished products. I'd suggest Hammerl priming coats (either for oil or for spirit varnishing) and Imprimitura minerale, a Spanish product based on a petroleum distillate. All these products improve the elasticity of the wood and represent an excellent ground for instruments of the viloin family.
Mike

 

[james condino]

Any updates to this 11 year old thread?

I just opened up one of my bee hives today (exciting!!!) and pulled out a bunch of propolis to experiment with varnish. Over the last couple of years I've expanded my cooked varnish chops considerably, but it seems to be one of those lifetime adventures.

 

[Don Kasper]

Any updates to this 11 year old thread?

I just opened up one of my bee hives today (exciting!!!) and pulled out a bunch of propolis to experiment with varnish. Over the last couple of years I've expanded my cooked varnish chops considerably, but it seems to be one of those lifetime adventures.

Note to the TB Hive - If your bass has a nasty buzz, take it to James - you won't get stung.
He's the Queen of Beekeepers!
(I need to get a life...)

 

[Eli Brockway]

Any updates to this 11 year old thread?

I just opened up one of my bee hives today (exciting!!!) and pulled out a bunch of propolis to experiment with varnish. Over the last couple of years I've expanded my cooked varnish chops considerably, but it seems to be one of those lifetime adventures.

I believe David Langsather has some good info on his website about using propolis as part of the ground layers; he seemed to quite like it in conjunction with fuller's earth. In contrast, I think Roger Hargrave is of the opinion that it's worthless for a ground or varnish, a complete red herring.

I say make some mead with the honey and start experimenting. Bonus points if you distill some of the mead to some obnoxiously high proof to dissolve the propolis in. Self-sufficiency!

Just make sure to tell the government you're distilling it for fuel and varnish, of course. Never to taste.