1970 Gibson ES-175D Restoration, Part 2: Efficiently Removing Shellac

Shellac is dissolvable with denatured alcohol, but that doesn't make it "easy" to remove. In this video, I discuss a few methods I tried to remove the shellac and their relative effectiveness.
#archtopguitar
#gibsonguitars
#restoration

[@soundguyjimmy]

Great Job! I can’t wait for the next episode!

[@Pondo1221]

Put the alcohol in a spray bottle. Spray it lightly. Spray it lightly as it evaporates. Keep it wet as it works. Then spray it as you wipe the shellac off. The problem is that the alcohol evaporates so quickly and deposits the shellac back onto the surface before it can be wiped off. I've run into that shellac on old rifles I restore and preserve. Hardwood floors from the 1950's I've refinished as well. It was VERY popular back then.

[@zwitchguitars]

That’s a great idea, thanks!

[@borgonianevolution]

Oh man that is a tedious process but effective it seems. Even got a few Dad points for including the Zwitchlings in what you do!! Well done brother!

[@zwitchguitars]

Tedious is absolutely the right word for it.
These kids always think I’m hiding away doing something cool. But then they learn, it’s all just grunt work 😅

[@borgonianevolution]

@@zwitchguitars I was like that with my grandfather and learned tons of skills through osmosis at that age hahah

[@user-uo9vq1ks8m]

A possible easier way to work with the potentiometers would be to slip a stretchable hose over the potentiometer shafts [ upon removing the hold down nut and washers.]
The potentiometers can slip down in to the body -and can be easily extracted out again upon completion of your refinishing
A beautiful guitar

[@zwitchguitars]

Thanks for that tip! I have come to the conclusion that I need to drop the pots out, but hadn’t thought through how I would do it yet

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

When you hear "Proud Mary", remember that John Fogerty recorded it with an ES-175!

[@zwitchguitars]

I did not know that! Of course, don’t hear much John Fogerty either

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@zwitchguitars Yup, for Creedence's second album, Fogerty used an ES-175 on a lot of songs. The solo on "Proud Mary" is an ES-175 tuned to DGCFAD.

[@reijerlincoln]

There's a special place reserved in hell for whomever dipped it in shellac.

[@zwitchguitars]

They can hang out with the person who kerfed the top braces 🤦

[@soundguyjimmy]

😂