sanded this thing till I had the start of a blister on my thumb!!!!

then I taped up the fingerboard to keep off the varnish and sprayed a few coats on the rest. Now we see the walnut grain start to sho up and a little bearclaw figure on the top too.......

the first coat is (for me anyway) a "spot the flaws" exercise. any glue that's on the surface of the wood won't take the varnish in the same way as bare wood will, so it shows up a paler colour.

once it's dry it can be sanded out and started again.

Delighted (and surprised) to say, no such problems here!!!!!

are we looking at a pre Easter completion?

you know I really do think it's a possibility.........