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Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

Blotch - what next?

First, I’m new at this so thanks for any advice. I’m re-topping my Mom’s first guitar (it’s own story). My plan is to finish the top with lacquer and in preparation I sprayed shellac out of a can and then pore sealed with crystalac. I thought I had it all sanded evenly but when I sprayed the first coat of lacquer, there were blotches everywhere. Do I just need to sand down to bare wood and start over or is there a way to fix this?

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Private member
Thanks, Ian! This’ll be that first top where, years from now, I’ll look at it and say, “I remember when Ian told me to do things differently. And I sold all my tools the next day”.
Private member DiscussionFinish New Builds

2K Spraymax not curing

Hello everyone! I'm having quite a lot of issues with a Jackson Warrior I'm refinishing in 2K Spraymax. After a week, it is still not completely cured and it dents whenever I do the "fingernail-test". This is already the second time this happened. My process is: Sanded the body completely to bare wood, up to 320 grit. Filled with Z-Poxy, let cure for 24h. Sanded back to 400 grit Sprayed 1K primer, let dry for ~2 hours Sprayed 2x 1k color coats…

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Private member
prob a bad can that didnt release the activator...
Private member DiscussionFinish New Builds

Acrylic clear coat partially dissolved sunburst

Hi all, I'm experiencing a problem with finishing a steel string guitar. After spraying a sunburst with Colortone liquid stains diluted in thinner (which I left curing overnight), I sprayed a very thin coat of SprayMax 2K Clear coat (https://www.spraymax.com/en/products/product/clear-coats-and-spot-blender/2k-clear-coat/) and, to my horror, saw some of the black paint disappear. The amount of SprayMax I sprayed was very little, yet some o…

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Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

1946 Gibson J-45

So this 46' J-45 came to me at a very very low price as it needs extensive repair. Much that I am confident in, cracks, bridge/bridge plate issues, loose braces and the like. There are however a few points that id like the groups opinions on. The neck angle is pretty great and theres a good amount of fret, however, at some point in its past, someone shaved down the neck to a dangerous point, and the back of the neck has toms cracks along…

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Ian Davlin
That break in the neck is probably the truss rod breaking on through to the other side. That would require something radical to become stable. Maybe pulling the board, the rod and then layering some C…
Private member DiscussionFinish New Builds

How about this giant fan for winter lacquer spraying?

Just curious on some thoughts if this fan would work to prevent me from poisoning myself and my family from spraying in my basement shop: https://a.co/d/8UPeRwk I have a basement shop with a door that goes outside. I don’t have a sprayer system, so am currently using rattle cans. Wondering if I set this up with a big 25 foot hose going outside, and put my workpiece right in front of it, if I could get away with spraying in my shop to acc…

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Private member
Re: Dale Fairbanks’ garage - I’ll add that’s a really valid concern. My town (Dale’s former town) has a well-deserved reputation for crotchety neighbors who like to complain. Many municipalities have…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Martin-style Ambertone

Has anyone here sprayed a Martin-Style Ambertone top? Curious how you approach it color wise....seems to me the amber base coat is a very orange/red color, then a very light and warm feathered in brown

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Private member
Dark Vintage Maple in TransTint is just a stronger version (more concentrated) of ColorTone "Straw". I don't like amber or Vintage Amber for the center color. I find a better center color with 1 part…
Private member DiscussionFinish New Builds

Finishing Zircote

Hi Everyone. I am planning to finish my latest electric build which has a Zircote top. I am going to spray Nitro Lacquer. Is there anything I need to watch out for in spraying over such an oily wood? Thanks!

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Private member
Hi Robert: Nothing special to do with Ziricote. You should wipe it down with mineral spirits or naptha and then a light coat of thinned finish or sanding sealer is all that is needed before you start…
Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

Fender Maple Refin

Any tips on matching this fingerboard up to the headstock with some type of stain before frets then looking to spray a gloss poly on after fretting. The original finish seems to have reacted with a moisturizing lotion the customer uses.

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Ian Davlin
That, is a fine looking color !
Private member DiscussionFinish New Builds

Spray Booth Set up

Looking to hear what everyone has been using for booth setups, portable or not.

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Ian Davlin
I just do touchup, so I have a fan in the window. Highly unrecommend if you're making plumes of solvents.
Private member DiscussionFinish New Builds

shop compressor set up

I am setting up a compressor in my shop almost entirely to spray finishes. I've looked at a lot of youtubes and am now more confused than when I started. I'm currently using a HVLP system but I want to set up a compressor and I know nothing of the filters I see and now I'm learning there is a need to cool the air before spraying. I understand the methods of cooling I see but do I need all this to spray just guitars. I have a 6SCFM…

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I solved all of my air line contamination issues with this rig. First step is a basic moisture and oil trap, second is a desiccant based moisture remover, third stage is a high end (very small partic…
Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

Butyl Cellosolve to reflow 70s Gibson lacquer

I consulted the Flexner book for reference using butyl cellosolve in lacquer. As expected it says ratios into lacquer are trial and error. I'm looking for an answer to best re-flow 70s Gibson lacquer to melt with new over sprayed lacquer. What's my best bet ratio butyl/lacquer to avoid adhesion issues? Thanks in advance! -Brent

6 replies
6 replies
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Ian Davlin
Do you have a picture of the affliction you could post ?