Checking will vary according to the extremes the instrument has been through. Finish with p1200 paper and then use tcut to bring up the. Jul 10, 2017 a short tutorial showing how to get that cracking checking effect on a nitrocellulose guitar finish. Im using a store bought, aerosol spray can, gloss lacquer by watco for my finish coating. I have used their satin before without any problems. Some companies are putting a layer of nitro over the poly. Is this something that can be easily repaired by a violin or. Your pores will be sanded level and then shoot another mill or two max. Apart from the above, small cracks can appear in a nitro finish after several years. One longstanding claim in particular is that the finish affects the tone, with nitro finishes being at the top of the tone heap and poly finishes at the bottom because of their supposed blanketing effect. Lacquer finish wood furniture is becoming popular once again. Lacquers are often regarded as the best allaround finish for wood. Nitrocellulose varnishes and lacquers are mainly good for highlighting wood grain.
Repair cracks promptly to keep the problem from getting worse, particularly in exterior woodwork that is exposed to rain and moisture. Excess grain filler has plugged the string holes, but it helps to prevent the wood from swelling and cracking the finish while wet sanding and it can be drilled out. However it can be fixed by a good repair man, as being nitrocellulose, the finish can be blended back together. The simple fact is, nitrocellulose is a good finish, and its what was used back in the 50s and 60s.
Repairing wood damage and color touch up are skills separate from. June 25, 2016 dusting lacquer shellac solvent surface the finishing store waterbased wood woodfinishing woodwork woodworking wrinkle. Depending on the manufacturing process, nitrocellulose is esterified to. Nitro finishes, however, crack and yellow with age, and they can check guitarspeak for fine. So, my sg is finished in a really thin nitrocellulose finish. Variants in use include satin nitrocellulose lacquer highway one models, jim root stratocaster, which is a flatter finish, and thinskin nitrocellulose lacquer. How to refinish a nitrocellulose lacquer tabletop home. You might find this gives your instrument unique character, but if not, refinishing is well within your ability.
Mar 17, 2015 as we now know, that guitar would continue to cure over the ensuing years, as the solvent in the finish continued to evaporate and harden. The nice thing about nitrocellulose lacquer is that it dries fast and polishes to a high gloss with relative ease. Troubleshooting a crackling lacquer finish nitrocellulose lacquers can crackle because of rapid temperature changes. Identifying the finish on wood floors or furniture is necessary if you plan to strip and refinish the wood surface.
This is an extremely common, somewhat expected condition on older instruments with lacquer finishes. General wood finishing would you like to add information to. The colors of the images posted on the website are approximate or guidance, for greater security in the choice of color check the ral. Like any other lacquer, it can be used to finish wood products and keep painted surfaces shining, though there is much more to it than that. Nitrocellulose versus catalyzed lacquers for furniture finishing. How to refinish a guitar with nitrocellulose lacquer. When they brought the table back into the house they noticed that the finish on the top had a broken windshield cracked appearance. Without a finish, wood can dry, crack and deteriorate or if exposed to moisture swell so that drawers and doors no longer work. Understanding the characteristics of each will help you choose the right one.
However, if you like the way it looks and theres no concern about additional damage from water. Clarence leo fender, would be bemused by todays guitar market. The cycle gets progressively worse like the blue paint in the picture. However, nitrocellulose is also used in printing inks printing inks that have nitrocellulose. The foundation to every mirrorlike gloss finish is an underlying smooth wood surface. About poly finishes meanwhile, polyurethane and polyester finishes have been in use since the late 1960s while in the last few decades they have become more popular as they dont share the same complications of nitro finishing while being glossier and more durable. Feb 23, 2017 behlen nitrocellulose stringed instrument lacquer. Two days after my last nc lacquer build coats i decided to pull off the fb masking tape.
My job this time is to amalgamate the checked finish on the neck only. Its ready to spray with no thinning required, for faster finish buildup in multiple coats. These cracks cannot be felt on the very surface and appear to be between the wood and the absolute surface. I usually dont recommend trying to fix such checks, because they are often an inevitable part of the nitrocellulose lacquer aging process.
Finish with p1200 paper and then use tcut to bring up the gloss. Mar 18, 20 the chips are fairly small but go through to the wood and have cracks that are about 1cm long coming out of them. The problem is that while this is often seen as a durable material, lacquer can quite easily get chipped, scratched, and cracked over time. After paint and finish removal or stripping clean surface thoroughly with lacquer thinner or naphtha only a partial help. Clean surfaces thoroughly with naphtha only a partial help. Fender still uses nitrocellulose lacquer finishes on a select group of instruments road worn and american vintage series, various artist models. The effects are seen as erratic crack lines running across the coating. Jan 29, 2015 high gloss finishes on our guitars posted on january 29, 2015 by orpheo a while ago i was asked about different types of lacquer and how luthiers are able to get their guitars to look as glossy as they do. Vintage instruments typically sport nitrocellulose lacquera thin, hard finish that lets the wood resonate well. Could be a conversion varnish or even a precat lacquer. Finish checking, or weather checking as it is also known, refers to the pattern of small. The longest crack should not be in an area of high stress from the strings.
Dont get your guitar too wet as if water gets in screw holes it will swell the wood and crack your finish. Nitrocellulose is a finish which is supposedly more breathable, but its been determined that hes bad for the environment. Nitrocellulose lacquer is a material which has many uses both inside and outside the home. How to tell if a finish is lacquer or polyurethane hunker. As luck would have it, my 5 year old attacked me while i was playing, resulting in the nick in the finish in the image below boy meets music stand meets mandolin. One of the most disappointing of those is the tendency to check or crack with a sudden drop in temperature. Changes in temperature also can cause small cracks to form in the finish as the wood underneath expands and contracts. Feb 12, 20 if you want the finish to shrink, crack, wear, yellow, deteriorate, then do nitro. It went from staying inside, bedsides a heater for a couple of hours, before i put it outside in 30.
By paul s articles, troubleshooting alligatoring, checking, crazing, finish cracking. A guitar that gets too warm may cause the wood to warp. Finish checking, or weather checking as it is also known, refers to the pattern of small cracks, usually comprising a series of parallel lines, but sometimes loosely checkered, that can appear on certain guitars with nitrocellulose finishes. Nov 08, 2012 so to me it looks like a crack in the finish but im not 100% sure so i wanted to have some opinions. It will strip nitrocellulose finishes, as will cellulose thinners, acetone or. It builds up over time, and before you know it these instruments oft. Nitrocellulose lacquer does have some nasty habits. First thing today, i put a second coat of paint on. If you want the finish to shrink, crack, wear, yellow, deteriorate, then do nitro. The body really doesnt look too bad, and the finish is not even beginning to lift or loosen except on the neck, especially the peghead and heel. Fender uses a variety of finish types on its instruments, from the original nitrocellulose lacquer finishes to more modern urethane and polyester finishes.
If you want the finish to have the toughness of enamel with the ease of fixing it of lacquer but the cost of both times 5 in a vapor that will kill you, but will last until well after youre dead use urathane. Your 719 finish is going to crack anyway and youll end up doing it later so do it now. Nitrocellulose is a lacquer and is harder to work with. It is absolutely critical with opengrained woods that the pores be filled in order to obtain a smooth wood surface before any finish is even applied to the wood. A thin acrylic lacquer finish will be basically indistinguishable from nitro, except that it wont yellow and crack over time. Nitrocellulose lacquer in vintage colours suitable for finishing fender and gibson electric guitars. Whether its on furniture or wood trim, a crack can ruin the appearance of a highgloss finish. The difference between nitro and poly guitar finishes. There are several different types of lacquer available to woodworkers. That infamous nitro nitrocellulose haze on strat and les paul guitars haze, residue, and fog so common with nitrocellulose instruments like many fender strat and gibson les paul guitars is normally very resistant to cleaning due to years of playing. Jan, 2016 many guitarists, particularly those who love vintage instruments, believe everything affects the sound of those great old guitars we love so much.
Checking cracking a nitro guitar finish nitrocellulose relic tutorial. Nitrocellulose versus catalyzed lacquers for furniture. This clear wood finish brushing lacquer is 100percent nitrocellulose brushing spray for most interior wood and metal surfaces. Nitrocellulose lacquer is basically a solid dissolved in solvent, and it cures entirely by evaporation. However, despite that i cant get the finish to crack at all. The ageold way that craftsmen have been addressing this problem for years is to stabilize the level of humidity.
The cracks may be loosely spaced or very tight, and can appear on any part of the guitar. The comments below were added after this forum discussion was. I decided to fill a large buckle scar on my latest banjo. In fact, the wood in your guitars body stopped breathing within. There are several myths flying around about nitrocellulose lacquer guitar finishes. At any rate, contrary to what it looks like, i am 98% sure that the nick is just in the finish, not the wood it is the lighting of the photo that creates the illusion. A short tutorial showing how to get that cracking checking effect on a nitrocellulose guitar finish. Cracks allow water and water vapor to get in and the moisture causes the wood to swell which then causes the finish to start peeling. Nitro is a much thinner finish than poly and it doesnt clog the wood pores. Many players desire this roadworn look, and finishes such as waterbased lacquers and polyurethane finishes do not age like nitrocellulose lacquers. It is recommended to test the effect before in a wood sample to learn how to apply the material. How to repair a lacquer finish home guides sf gate.
Cracks allow water and water vapor to get in and the moisture causes the wood to swell which then causes the finish to start. It will not affect the guitars tone, and personally i would leave as is. The gash was on the bottom edge of the resonator, about one inch long. There was nothing magical about nitrocellulose finishes. The reason for the sanding and buffing is that its impossible to get a completely smooth finish when spraying. Sep, 2005 lacquers are often regarded as the best allaround finish for wood. If the existing lacquer finish is in good enough shape, you can spray new lacquer. How to repair a crack in the highgloss finish in wood. On some guitars, it never really did and the finish is still soft, but if you look at many a 50s or early 60s fender today, the finish is often extremely thin and almost as one with the wood. Nitrocellulose lacquer is synonymous with wellcrafted, vintage and modern instruments. Although staining furniture is optional, applying a finish is essential to protect the woods surface. On the downside nitro is not the most durable type of finish, it can wear away and is softer, materials such as guitar stand rubbers can sometimes react with the resin much in the same way as a solvent does.
I allowed it to dry a few hours, then sanded it smooth with 320. The term lacquer originates from the sanskrit word laksha representing the number 100,000, which was used for both the lac insect because of their enormous number and the scarlet resinous secretion, rich in shellac, that it produces that was used as wood finish in ancient india and neighbouring areas. When edmund flaherty invented nitrocellulose lacquer in 1921, he couldve had no idea how big a role it would play in the guitar industry. Nitrocellulose vs polyurethane telecaster guitar forum. The look, feel, and tone of nitrocellulose is hard to surpass, and it is easier than many finishes to repair or touchup. As an instruments wood expands and contracts with moisture content stress is placed on the finish. The finish has better resistance to coldchecking and scuffs. How to buff and polish your guitars finish duration.
The radiating cracks are very fine and appear to be below the surface. Use fluorescent lighting to age the nitrocellulose lacquer finish. High gloss finishes on our guitars posted on january 29, 2015 by. Mark off chippedcracked area with tape 2s around chip drop fill the chips were wood shows with matching black nail polish. Nitrocellulose lacquer naturally ages over time, giving the guitar a yellowish, antique quality, often with accompanying spider cracks, also known as crazing. On the other hand, a climate thats too dry can cause wood to become brittle and ultimately crack. Nitrocellulose makes her sick but doesnt bother me although i dont like lacquer thinner much what makes me sick is polyester. If you keep your guitar in a controlled environment for its lifetime, the finish would probably never crack or craze. Polyurethane is a highly durable finishing material that comes in highgloss, gloss or matte finishes. Sand it all down to bare wood with an ro sander or at least down to a mill or two. Depending on the manufacturing process, nitrocellulose is esterified to varying degrees.
How to age the finish on a nitro finish guitar our pastimes. Nitrocellulose lacquer is spincoated onto aluminum or glass discs, then a groove is cut with a lathe, to make oneoff phonograph records, used as masters for pressing or for play in dance clubs. Any finish that sits on top of the wood, will alter the overall tone of the instrument. Grain filler of all types seals a lot of the wood grain for an. I needed some to heal some lacquer cracks in an instrument that. Its common sense that since acoustic guitar wood is very thin, it is clearly very susceptible to warping if subjected to high heat and then freezing. If your electric guitar has a worndown or otherwise damaged finish, you can refinish it with a nitrocellulose lacquer, giving your axe a nice new look. Nitrocellulose, acrylic lacquer, or catalyzed lacquer. Repair chips and cracks in finish fender stratocaster. The best way to do this is to seal the wood under a finish in order to control the amount of moisture that can enter or leave the wood. They go all the way through the coating to the next layer or substrate below. Checking cracking a nitro guitar finish nitrocellulose.
Jan 06, 2010 if you keep your guitar in a controlled environment for its lifetime, the finish would probably never crack or craze. The acetone evaporates and the nitrocellulose makes a protective film on top of the wood. The glossy look of lacquer is seen as very fashionable. And why do guitar players still want to have their instruments covered in it. Restoring checked and crazed finishes woodworking network. Manufacturers make polyurethane from synthetic resins that are resistant to water and most solvents. Other woods dont need a finish at all, such as rosewood, pau ferro or ebony.
After enough time, the finish on a guitar will begin to fade. Fender today, the finish is often extremely thin and almost as one with the wood. Refinishing a nitrocelluloselacquered tabletop doesnt necessarily involve stripping the table, although it may. It is the constant movement of the wood, the guitar swelling and contracting, over years that cause the finish to craze. Perhaps one of the most famous of lacquers, nitrocellulose has been a popular choice for guitars. Aug 14, 2011 restoring checked and crazed finishes. Colortone lacquer is ready to spray with no thinning required, for faster finish buildup in multiple coats.
Uvb 3fluorescent lighting can be used when sunlight is not available. Refinishing a nitrocellulose lacquered tabletop doesnt necessarily involve stripping the table, although it may. Contamination in the finish or substrate from silicone and oils. The chips are fairly small but go through to the wood and have cracks that are about 1cm long coming out of them. I used one time only water and it got into all the screw holes and swelled the wood so it cracked. Its a hard, durable finish thats more flexible than standard furniture lacquer, allowing for the natural expansion and contraction that occurs when a guitar is exposed to humidity and temperature changes. It varied from 1 to 2 millimeters wide, and only went down to the wood at one small spot. In the 1920s with the rise of the manufacturing production line, there was a strong need for a quickdrying finish system that would protect all sorts of items including metals and all manner of wood used for mass production. Its relatively easy to apply and buff to a beautiful, high gloss finish. For natural colored woods in varying shades of brown, an oilbased pore filler can be used. A good finish prevents swelling and cracking, protects against stains and enhances the appearance of the wood.
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