Finishing Techniques Workshop

Event Organizer: Specimen Products
Organizer Email: info@specimenproducts.com
Event Phone: 773.489.4830

Event Status: Upcoming

Categories: Guitar Building, Guitar Repair

Dates and Times:

• December 5 & 6
  December 5, 2015 - December 6, 2015
  10:00 am - 5:00 pm
  - Sat & Sun 10 am - 5 pm
• February 23 - 26
  February 23, 2016 - February 26, 2016
  7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
• April 18 - 21
  April 18, 2016 - April 21, 2016
  7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Available Tickets:

Event Venue: CHICAGO SCHOOL OF GUITAR MAKING

Description: [T]he skills learned in this guitar finishing class will transfer easily to all areas of woodworking including instrument finishing, wood sculpture, furniture building, and antique restoration.  This workshop will teach you how to apply and repair various finishes including Nitro Cellulose Finish and French Polish (shellac). Finish work is expensive.  Learning to do it on your own will save you a lot of money.  Knowing how to do it well could make you a lot more money. NOTE:  A high quality organic vapor cartridge respirator with P-95 particle filter is required for this course.  Students may bring their own respirator or purchase a new one from the school.  Respirator cost is $40.

Schedule

Weeknights: 7 pm - 9:30 pm, on the same night each week over 4 consecutive weeks. Weekend: Saturday and Sunday 10 am - 5 pm.

Fee

Course fee: $485 weeknights.  $585 weekend.  *An early registration discount may apply. Tuition includes class fee and materials: wood blanks, paints and stains, sand paper, brushes, nitro-cellulose lacquer.  The weekend course fee includes catered lunches and refreshments each day.

Enrollment

Enrollment is limited to 8 students.

Registration

Enroll online on this page with credit card or paypal, or by phone: 773.489.4830, or with a check mailed to us or in person.  You will receive a registration confirmation email once we receive payment.

Accommodations

Click Here for a list of nearby places to stay during seminars, along with transportation information.

In this workshop students will learn:

• Wood selection for aesthetics and structural integrity
• How to operate an industrial spray booth and gun
• Proper French Polish technique from start to finish
• Finish removal
• Staining and color mixing
• Sunbursting
• Finish repair and touch-ups (drop filling, super glue repairs, etc)

WORKSHOP MATERIALS & SUPPLIES

Each student will be given several pieces of various hardwoods to practice on.  Students are encouraged to book extra time in an open workshop to work on their own instruments and refine their skills in a controlled environment.

Instructor

Richard Phillis   Rich is an expert surface finisher and a guitar technician at SPECIMEN.   Rich also teaches   Guitar Electronics Installation & Upgrades, Set-up for Guitar, Bass & Strings, and Effects Pedal Building at the Chicago School of Guitar Making. Ian Schneller    Ian is Chief  Instructor of Chicago School of Guitar Making,  Chief Amp and Instrument Repairs Specialist at Specimen and owner of Specimen Products, Inc.  Ian is also a faculty member of the Sculpture Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

How to Register

You can register for any of our classes on-line, by phone, through the mail, or in person.  We will send you a confirmation email of your registration once we receive payment.

Register  Online

Make your selection of the class dates you wish to attend (and the type of kit if applicable) in Available Dates column on the upper right of this page and click ENROLL NOW > Enter the required information and then proceed to pay by clicking the Paypal button where you can pay with either Paypal or a Credit Card.   NOTE: It is NOT necessary to have a Paypal account to use their service:

Registration by Phone:  773.489.4830

If you prefer registering by phone with your credit card: Please call us at 773.489.4830 and we will complete your registration over the phone.  We will send you a confirmation via email, or by snail mail if you prefer.

Register by MAIL with a CHECK

You must first contact us to register to pay by check in the mail.  Please call us at 773.489.4830 to reserve your space in the class.  Please print out the registration form and mail it to:
  Specimen Products 
1240 N. Homan Ave  
Chicago, IL 60651   We will email or snail mail your enrollment confirmation upon receipt of your mail-in registration form/payment.

Register in Person

You can come in to the shop during business hours and enroll using cash, your credit card, or a personal check. We’re open Monday through Friday 12 – 7 pm, Saturday 12-5 pm. We are closed on Sundays.  Map our location. Please call us at 773.489.4830 to let us know that you wish to register, so that we can save your space.