Proposed Finish for upcoming builds

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naccoachbob
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Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 9:25 am
Location: Nacogdoches, Tx

Proposed Finish for upcoming builds

Post by naccoachbob »

I'm starting a couple of guitars soon, and waffling between spraying on a waterborne finish (EM6000) or using Seagrave lacquer, which I understand is a nitrocellulose product.
My pore filler of choice is Zpoxy. I like the way it makes the wood look. I'll seal both before and after the pore filling, as that seems to be what a number of people do.
Should I go with the nitro, my only choice of spraying is to put the guitar in the garage, with the garage open, but to have the compressor on the other side of the wall, to eliminate it as a source of combustion. The only electrical in the garage is a power receptical and light switch. Does this make sense?
Another huge question for me is how do I determine and keep track of how thick my finish actually is? What do you use as a way of measuring how thick a coat you put on? What thickness is a "good" thickness of a top coat just before the final sanding and buffing?
Thank you for your time and input,
Bob
tippie53
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Re: Proposed Finish for upcoming builds

Post by tippie53 »

Seagrave was bought out I find Behlen and Mowhawk also very good finishes. My filler of choice is pore o paq. This is a mineral spirit based filler. There is a recipe with this. Mix about 3 tablespoons at a time. I use Minwax special and dark walnut stain to color it. a few drops of each.
Then I stir it with a plastic fork till it is about like hershey;s syrup. Add a few drops of naphtha for aiding the flash time. I work the back then the sides. Once applied with a brush , rag or card allow to start to set the rup the material into the wood. You should see little pills roll up and keep rubbing them into the pores. Allow to dry and repeat. I use a 3m pad to scuff off.

seal fill seal then finish.
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
B. Howard
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Re: Proposed Finish for upcoming builds

Post by B. Howard »

I explain how to measure and calculate dry film thickness in this article.
http://howardguitars.blogspot.com/2015/ ... brian.html
You never know what you are capable of until you actually try....

Brian Howard
www.brianhowardguitars.com
Taylor authorized service
Custom finishing services

Brian howard's guitar building & repair blog
http://www.brianhowardguitars.com
johnnparchem
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Re: Proposed Finish for upcoming builds

Post by johnnparchem »

Thanks Brian! I think I read this before but I found it well worth reading again.
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