Thanks Badger, I thought the same thing. I lost some reflex in my tips during tillering. If i moved the bend out a bit and tightened it a bit I think it'd perform better and not give me as much trouble.
toomanyknots -The finish is shellac but it's only the base coat. I plan to finish it with tru oil but the overlay (orange wood) is Padauk and bleeds really bad with oil. Shellac is a fantastic sealer. Thanks for the complement.
