Applying the Finish
Taping off the Neck
I used blue painters
tape to protect the neck surface where the fingerboard would go. The
tape blocked the finish effectively and it peeled right off when I was
done finishing.
Applying the Finish
Here is the mandolin
after one or two coats of finish. I used a wipe on polyurethane finish
over the mandolin's entire surface. This finish is really easy to apply
and dries in only a few hours. Some light sanding in between coats with
0000 steel wool was all that was required in between coats. It made
finishing really quick
and easy compared to many methods used on stringed instruments.
Finish...Done
Overall, I used three or
four coats over the entire mandolin. This made for a slight sheen, but
didn't build up a thick layer of finish. This finish also makes for a
nice natural feel on the neck.
