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All...

I'm thinking of making the jump to spray finishing. What products do you guys recommend (nitro vs. waterbased, etc...), and which spray setups seem to work best? Any experience out there with the Earlex systems?

Thanks!

Where do you intend you do your spraying? Nitro and water based both have advantages and disadvantages. What Type of fish do you currently use?

Thanks Brian...

I have a detached workshop, but no spray booth. I guess after reading and trying to delve into the topic a bit more I'm inclined to go toward a water-based finish like KTM-9. I could always spray outside as well.

I've been French Polishing using the u-beaut from LMI. It works well, though I never get a perfectly flat finish. It looks good but handmade.

Tj

French Polish is a hand applied finish and IMHO should show some signs of the hand that applied it just like all other aspects of hand work.

A water borne like KTM can be a good choice. It is less of a health hazard, but you still need to wear a good respirator and have good ventilation. A WB poly like that will be much harder to repair than a traditional lacquer should the need arise. It also will not have quite the clarity of other finishes.

While not a pro set up, the Earlex seems like a decent unit for it's class and should be able to spray the KTM adequately. Of course better equipment makes the job easier, Fuji and Apollo are some of the best turbine systems out there. Better technique will of course yield better results. There is a learning curve to this, it is a whole different discipline than the making of a guitar. My advice would be to practice on test panels of plywood before starting on a guitar.

Brian...

Just for comparison sakes, which Apollo and which Fuji system would you recommend?

Also...this is probably a really dumb question, but is there a reason that no one ever talks about spraying shellac? Is it just the problems in cleaning the gun afterwards?

The entry level units from either company are very good. I have used an apollo single fan turbine for 20 years for field applications and it has held up well. But they will cost much more than the Earlex, which looks a lot like my old apollo.

Shellac can be sprayed, I do it as a sealer sometimes. It really is not much more difficult to clean out than lacquer. WB coatings can be difficult to clean out of your gun because any little bit that gets missed will harden and not redissolve. This can clog up a gun permanently in short order. The biggest problem with spraying shellac as a finish is the cut must be very light (1/2 lb. or less) and many, many coats are needed to get a nice finish. If coats are sprayed too thick the surface texture is awful, the stuff sort of "crawls" and crazes a little and this can be really tough to sand out and buff.

I have the inexpensive HVLP spray rig from Rockler. When I go it it was $100, I think it's a bit more now.
I has worked great for the last 3 guitars spraying Nitro. I am happy with it and I think it will last awhile. I only build one guitar a year basically. I believe I have seen the same spray unit at HF for even less money, you could check it out.

Kevin

if you decide to go with KTM-9, I have an unopened quart of the Gloss I'd sell you for a good price!

You can spray shellac but it brushes easy also.
I have a few guns and I hate to admit my Harbor freight touch up gun is one of me grab guns