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scrape after finish is done? I've never tapes the area with my previous finishing schedule but see it done all the time. Seems like the tape would really get in the way? But would be nice to begin the process with a clean surface...

Opinions?

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I’ve always just masked it off


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French polish right over the top of the tape? Thought the edge of the tape might interfere.

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Thank You and Best To All

I mask too. The edge of the masking is not much of a hindrance at all and after a few sessions it blends in enough to not interfere witht he pad at all. Taking the masking off is really easy since the finish is so thin. You just peel it off. I have forgotten to tape off the fretboard extension area and had to scrape that back. Taking the tape off is way easier than scraping.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I mask too and just swipe the FP right over it. I will make the masking tape foot print a hair smaller though because you get a bit of build up right at the edges. Then I place the bridge, score a line around it and remove that little bit with a chisel as a scraper. Some people like to rabbet the bridge. And actually with FP you probably could just glue right over it because it's so thin.

If regular tape becomes problematic for you, you could try frisket film. It is pretty thin.

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Thanks so much for the help. I'll mask and proceed.

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Thank You and Best To All

I mask and treat the tape just like the top - French Polish right over it. I find better results that trying to polish up the the tape edge.

Michael turned me on to a great video from Jay Lichty. He does a very thorough job going through all the finishing steps for use with water based finishes, but most of the prep applies as well to FP (non-traditional, but very much in the style of Robbie O'Brien, who also has a great video on a "modern" or hybrid FP method.)

https://lichtyguitars.com/2016/05/02/applying-water-based-finish-to-guitars-and-ukuleles/

I'm the other side of the argument. I don't tape. I just scribe and scrape after the fact. I have also finished with the bridge on, which is not ideal for me. It can be done, but I am happier with the finish if I finish before gluing on the bridge.

I don't do the ledge, either, but that is more because I want all of the gluing surface I can get. I am pretty good at keeping the scribe line clean.

A few years back I went to see the late Eugene Clark for FP lessons. He was adamant you could FP with the bridge in place. Mind, with his way of working, there was a lot more building up a flat surface of shellac and a lot less sanding than most people do. I think the closest instruction you'll get to his way now is the online course taught by archtop maker Tom Bills. He had lessons from Eugene too. You might want to email him and ask if he covers FP with a fixed bridge attached.

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nigel

http://www.theluthierblog.com

FP then scrape......Because I FP neck and body separately, I do not know EXACTLY where the bridge goes until after I set the neck......and I always touch up the body after the bridge is on...my $0.02

"I think the closest instruction you'll get to his way now is the online course taught by archtop maker Tom Bills."

Does he use a glued down bridge on his archtops????

This is how I do no matter type of finish....
https://howardguitars.blogspot.com/2016/05/setting-bridge-on-new-acoustic.html

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Very nice. I love that simple bridge clamping jig too. But surly you have some sort of cork or felt under those levelers?

REALLY great info and help. I've been using a similar technique to your very detailed and professional tutorial Brian, and may stick with that method going forward. Heck may not even french polish this guitar and use EnduroVar as in the past.

Many many thanks!

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Thank You and Best To All

NICE video, thank for posting the link.

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I doubt it, but he may cover Classical bridges in his course. That is why I suggested emailing him to ask.

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nigel

http://www.theluthierblog.com

I’ve completed that course.
He uses that thin tape to mask it off...
I forget the name.....
he does a lot of the courses on acoustic builds


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At first they had cork glued to them, but the rotation of tightening tears it off so i slide small pieces of wood under them before tightening them.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/