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Joined:
November 2007
Posts: 4
Location: Northern NJ, USA | Further to my earlier post, what makes the Nitro lacquers so special? I've used MinWax high gloss varnish over the years on furniture I've made but never worked with wood on a guitar. Seems to me it's just the drying time. I'm wondering if my neck will need re-setup if the strings have been off for a week or so??? Thanx. |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| Welcome Wichita,
You're an old-school trade, so you should be telling us about it. I'd like to hear your experiences finishing all the different woods. I've been in the painting trade for quite a while and there's so many products these days, it seems there all trying to beat the laws of physics. Guitar tops need to breathe and vibrate so it stands to reason that the best product would be something lite and fast drying. To me that says 'lacquer', but it also may depend on the specific wood. If your guitar neck is sturdy it shouldn't need a new setup between string changes, unless you're changing guages, tension or tuning. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Wichita,
I can recommend Dan Erlwine's book Guitar Player:Guitar Repair guide. A must for anyone doing work on his guitar. A lacquer has different properties than polyutherane. You can go to the LMI website, and they tell you about different finishes, their pluses and minuses.
The world of guitar finishes is a universe to explore.
Taking your strings off for a week won't bother an ovation. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | There's a lot of Erlwine "Tips" on the StewMac webpage, as well . . . |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Nitro Laq is good for tops becaue of the tonal qualities. You're doing a peghead. You want clear and good build to get the thickness. Then you'll have to sand it flat and have a way to buff it up to the desired gloss level. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | Lacquer is layerable but poly is tough. I am trying more of the water based stuff because when I fume out the house I get in more than usual trouble. I will also be trying to make a small dust free drying box.
Anybody got one of those great big buffer wheels they want to get rid of? |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Another finish for guitars is the elusive Conversion Varnish. This stuff is tough as nails and dries fairly quickly and lays out so flat on each coat it allows several coats for that mirrored gloss effect on guitars. Rickenbacker uses this as a finish. Do not ever use Lacquer to repair one done in Conversion Varnish they are at different ends of the scale and will slowly react with each other and the repair will look horrible in a month or two. Problem is it is as toxic as Lacquer perhaps more so your spray room needs a positive air repirator to do it safely.
Randy |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | When you spray this stuff you're supposed to do it in a small nonventalated room. You'll smile till it's dry, and then put on another coat! |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I know what you mean about being in the dog house about fumes ... I've had good luck with Tru oil gun oil. Very little fumes, the only thing she'll complain about is how long it takes. |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Last time I managed to find some, I had to order it in a quart size can. The US Gov. has decided this stuff is so toxic that a gallon would be a hazard if it spilled. The company told me I can just order as many quarts as I want and they can ship that way.
Another usless rule from the minds we live under.
Personally I like Lacquer, it is easily obtainable and although toxic very predictable and my finish gun seems to like using it.
Randy |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Actually, if you're talking about tru-oil, a quart will more than take care of your guitar with plenty to spare. It makes sense to use smaller containers (for tru-oil) because once air gets in the can or bottle it slowly oxidizes and gets hard.
I love the stuff for necks.
PS My office has now banned the the tru-oil website because half of it is devoted to guns. Damn, no porn at work, no guns ... what am I going to look at. Thank god they haven't gotten wise to guitar porn. |
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OK Then , Lacquer or Varnish
