James is still having trouble replying here. James, don't use "Quick Reply", it doesn't work unless you're using a particular version of MS Explorer. Instead, use "Reply" or "Quote".
Anyhoo, James says:
"To each his own, as I may have said never French Polished before and never put a Guitar together and I was impatient into the bargain. The instructions on the bottle say dry after 15 minutes and here in warm Brisbane it seemed to go off even quicker (you should try fibreglassing here the Solution goes solid before you know it) so the temptation was always there to keep going.
Part of the roughness might also be changing the method of Shellac application, from Cloth to Brush and back to Cloth, after all French Polishing is a whole profession in its self. Will always use Cloth from now on.
All lessons for next time.
As to the truss rod guard none of my other Guitars have one and there was no mention in the Video guides that I could see.
I Have to decide whether to drag the Jigsaw out to shape the head but at this stage I am enjoying playing it too much to have it out of action.
Its all food for thought."