Applying finish to the guitar

Originally my friend who is the owner of this guitar, didn't like any finish at all for the guitar.
But I managed to convince him since the varnish I apply is a very thin layer of quick drying polyurethane varnish.
It is very water resistant (protect against the sweat) and especially useful in such a hot humid climate of Singapore.
Main thing is it can be applied very thinly using a cloth and will not affect the sound.
Some people like shiny surface but my friend prefer a matt surface.

The one on the left is with the 1 coat of varnish.
The one on the right is raw wood.
One drop of water is placed on each surface.

After the water is wiped away, the one with the varnish is very dry and the one w/o varnish can see the watermark on the wood.


So I began to sand the sides with 100 grit and then 1000 grit to smooth-en out the surface.
After that I began to apply the varnish with a piece of old cotton T-shirt cloth.
With the varnish it looks very smooth and with some more 1000 grit sanding it should feel very smooth.
It looks like raw wood as what my friend wanted.

Sanding the surface

The quick drying polyurethane varnish by Ronseal

Applying the varnish with a cotton T-shirt cloth

The varnish almost dried - some more sanding to do. Even w/o sanding it looked very smooth

Scaping the other side

The back done

Drilling guide hole for the the tuner machine screw (1mm guide hole)

Installing the machine