I built a StewMac kit mandolin when I was in my teens around 1980. It has held up well over the years but it could use a refinishing. Solid spruce top with laminated mahogany sides and back, and I believe the neck is mahogany as well. At the time I used a StewMac wipe on finish. I believe it was varnish and it was a paste or gel consistency. I put a few coats on but it has always had an unfinished look and certainly no shine or thickness to the finish. I did nothing to fill the open grained mahogany. The neck has oils from playing and I'm sure I put down a handful of Johnson's Floor Wax coatings over the years. First it seems like I should clean out the oils and wax. Next I assume I would do some light sanding (then another clean) and I would like to fill the mahogany and I imagine stain the mahogany. Perhaps stain the top as well. I plan to use Tru-Oil for varnish. I don't expect I will play this a ton (have a 1919 Gibson A) but I want to finish the job after all these years and get it looking nicer.
- It doesn't have the best sound and I expect I didn't thin the top enough. I'm assuming it is a little late for that? I'm not looking to turn this into a 50 hour project or to remove the back. (some thoughts of going at it with my random orbit sander but I expect that wouldn't go well!)
- What is best to clean out the oils? Any recommendations for filling the mahogany?
- It could use a better setup and a fret level. My thought is to have a pro do that after I finish the cosmetics.
Thanks,
Jim
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