This morning I put a drop of dish washing detergent in a saucer of water, cut a piece of 1,000 grit sandpaper to size and lightly sanded the shiny surface of these two ukuleles. The sanding quickly removes the shine, but prepares the instruments to take on an even smoother shinier surface after a few more applications of dilute shellac.
Here they are, for the evening inspection in front of the fireplace. After three applications of French Polish they are beginning to get a nice shine. The water and detergent is to soak the sandpaper in so that the grit does not clog up and stop cutting.
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This is Teri's tenor. An unusual figured East Indian Rosewood.
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The East Indian on Connie's tenor is more normal but very lovely.
Redwood soundboards always take longer to build up a shiny finish, but we will get there soon.
