Flow Coat? Yes or No

The Achilles' Heel of Luthiery
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Kbore
Posts: 299
Joined: Sun Jun 25, 2017 3:58 pm
Location: St. Louis area

Flow Coat? Yes or No

Post by Kbore »

Do you have recommendations for a flow coat to finish out Mohawk nitro SIL on an acoustic?

I've read in various books* and on-line the virtues of a "flow" coat that's 1 part lacquer to 4 parts thinner after the "final coat" is finished. You guys that do a nitro flow coat, do you recommend it?
Do you have recommendations for a flow coat?
My technique is 95% run free, but I'm a lot apprehensive to shoot a 1:4 flow coat.

BTW,
This project, my second acoustic guitar, has its "final" coat of Mohawk SIL (Stringed Instrument Lacquer) yesterday.
As my spraying equipment (StewMac conversion jam gun and nailer compressor 3.2 CFM) is on the way side of budget, my finish is not really smooth. It's not bad I would like a smoother finish to wet sand, and it is, afterall, another skill to learn. Just wish I didn't have to learn it on MY guitar

I also posted this on OLF, hope that is not a Forum foul....
Measure Twice,

Karl B
tippie53
Posts: 7011
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
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Re: Flow Coat? Yes or No

Post by tippie53 »

if you want a flow coat use retarder
My normal mix is 1/2 lacquer 1/4 retarder 1/4 thinner
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
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