• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Varnish - Final stages question

B

basswraith

Mar 10, 2003
210
4
Boston
www.bostonbassworks.com
#1
After the desired color has been achieved in varnish, how can one successfully go about rubbing out the varnish to acquired a smooth glossy shine? I want to know what kind of rubbing compounds to use and in which order. I have experimented with a few ideas but I am still not satisfied and have not achieved an even surface. Any info will be appreciated here. :confused:
 
#5
Make sure you have a couple of clear coats above your colored coats. It's nice insurance so you won't go through the color...

Micromesh is good, but try Novus #3 scratch remover after you level out the varnish with 600+ grit- (wet, w/foam pad for backing). It saves time, and produces a beautiful, finished result.
 
#8
Novus is kind of a specialty item. Some places carry it, but most places don't. Do a web search, (Novus + Minneapolis)find the distributor #800, call them, and they will tell you who sells it in your area. It's a great rubbing compound, and saves a lot of elbow grease...
 
#9
my instrument has plenty of scrapes along the corners of the instrument. It's extremely visible for an instrument that hasn't aged. Is it a wise idea to get this little areas "re-varnished" ? Also how much would the run me? It's basically around both f holes, an the corners of the bass (that runs all around the instrument)...the parts that embossed if you will. Sorry I can't explain it much better.

thx
 
#11
well that actually came with my bass. at the time i should have probably asked the seller to fix it up. along the left corner of the bass, the varnish is all scraped away. the previous owner said it was his first bass and it was from hitting the bow against the violin corners.
 
#12
Snakewood said:
well that actually came with my bass. at the time i should have probably asked the seller to fix it up. along the left corner of the bass, the varnish is all scraped away. the previous owner said it was his first bass and it was from hitting the bow against the violin corners.
Click to expand...

Don't you just hate when that happens.. By the way, you are referring to the edges of the Bass and the Corners. When you lay a Bass down the edges get scraped up a little. Over time this starts to look bad. Some people put raised 'bumpers' on the Ribs to preserve them over time. I always lay my Bass on a Chair with only the Bottom bout of my larger Basses actually touching the Floor. The FFs get nicked from Sound Post setting, peeking inside with lights and stuff for repair planning and repairing from the outside thru the FFs. Also, the FFs are often painted Black on the inner edges but one must be carful when touching this up and not paint the Top. A majic/permanent marker will the FFs inside just fine. Edge touch-up costs depends on who does it and how much is needed.

Back to the Corners, I am starting to dig the Gamba corners more as they don't get in the way as much. On occassion I hit the tip with either the Frog or the Tip of the Bow depending on the Bass. Some of my Basses have the Corners perfectly parallel to my Bow at the end of the fingerboard. The Gilkes is one of them and the Neck needs to be moved out a bit as the 'stand' is too shallow. When a Bass has a wide middle bout, low stand angle and the Corners are parallel to the end of the FB, you are going to bang the bow from time to time if not often. Also, as you already know, sloppy bowing is the cause of this as well even on perfectly dimentioned Basses.
 
#13
basswraith said:
After the desired color has been achieved in varnish, how can one successfully go about rubbing out the varnish to acquired a smooth glossy shine? I want to know what kind of rubbing compounds to use and in which order. I have experimented with a few ideas but I am still not satisfied and have not achieved an even surface. Any info will be appreciated here. :confused:
Click to expand...
Hi Mike. Since you have used spirit varnish, rubbing the finish up is relatively easy (compared to oil varnish). I like a new product from Zinnser (sp?) which they call simply "French Polish". It's got everything you need in one bottle. Just wet-sand the finish level (I'd bring it up to 1000 or 1200 grit), then pad the stuff on lightly using a cotton wad. It will bite into the existing finish and buff it up, while adding a micro-layer on top. Be careful not to use it too heavily or you'll pull varnish off. If you find the resulting sheen too glossy, knock it down gently by rubbing with the grain with 0000 Liberon steel wool. Liberon is much finer than hardware store steel wool, and contains no oil. I've read the other ideas above and they're all excellent too. I just find this method very easy and I like the resulting look.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back