Page 10
Well, we moved, and my workshop situation has drastically changed.
But the dulcimer is physically complete and the finish is going on.
I've done 2 coats of french polished padded on by hand, then 2 coats of
lemon yellow shellac. I then scuff sanded with 400 grit sand paper and
added 2 more coats of blond shellac (with almost no color).
It's that last coat that's drying now.
The colors of the purpleheart and bocote wood are really coming out nicely.
The spruce top has a really nice golden glow.
I'm going to brush on one more coat of blond shellac tonight and then let it dry.
Tomorrow I'll lightly sand it with 400 grit and then sand it with 600 grit wet sandpaper.
Then I'll pad on a very light french polish with just a bit of alcohol and a few drops of
shellac. That will give the instrument a final gloss. Then we move on to installing the
bridge, nut, tuning machines, and tail piece string pins.