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SANDING AND FINISHING
____24. Give Strumbly a fi nal sanding before applying a fi nish. Take your time to do a nice job -- it
will pay huge dividends toward the cosmetic appearance of the instrument when it is fi nished.
Start with 180 grit sandpaper and sand off all the machine marks left by our equipment, as
well as any glue spots you might have added during construction. Dried glue may not show
much now, but it will stick out like a sore thumb under the fi nish. Work your way through
fi ner sandpaper if you wish, but many people are satisfi ed with how smooth the wood is with
180 grit paper.
Now you’re ready to apply the fi nish of your choice. We’ve listed several options below. Don’t
forget to put some fi nish on the BRIDGE.
STAINS or DYES
-- These are coloring agents and should only be used if you want to change
the natural color of the wood. We usually do not apply stains to our projects, especially when
they are made with naturally beautiful hardwoods such as cherry or walnut. These woods
look best with a clear fi nish. But, if you want to color the wood, your staining should be accom-
plished before applying a surface fi nish such as oil, varnish, or lacquer.
OIL or WAX
-- Be very cautious about using an oil or wax fi nish. If the this type of fi nish
gets into the tuning pin holes, it will act as a lubricant, and you may have trouble keeping the
instrument in tune. Oil fi nishes will give your wood a low luster appearance, bringing out the
natural color of the grain, but it tends to soak into the wood and appear dry and “thirsty” after
awhile. Some people are fond of a beeswax fi nish for a natural look, but it can show water spots
if it gets wet, so you may end up needing to re-wax or touch up the surface in the future.
POLYURETHANE VARNISH
-- Any regular varnish will work fi ne on this project, but we
think a wipe-on (gel) polyurethane is the easiest to apply because it does not drip or sag -- just
wipe on a thin coat and wipe off the excess. Our complete fi nishing kit includes a half-pint
can of satin gel polyurethane (instructions printed right on the can), plus sandpaper sheets,
and foam applicator for the fi rst coat. The advantages of this fi nish are its simple application,
minimal odor, good durability, and deep, soft luster.
LACQUER
-- Many professional instrument makers use lacquer for their fi nish. The most
readily available lacquer is called Deft Clear Wood Finish. It is best to purchase a can of liquid
to brush on as a sealer coat fi rst, and then use an aerosol can of the same product to spray on
the fi nal coats. The advantage of this fi nish is its quick drying time, but the disadvantage is the
strong odor of the toxic lacquer fumes.
GENERAL FINISHING GUIDELINES
