Is acrylic lacquer good for guitars?
Yes, acrylic does dry faster than nitrocellulose and I think it would be a good choice for a guitar finish. It also doesn’t yellow – a plus or a minus depending on your view of relics – and produces a less brittle, more flexible finish. It is more expensive than nitro though.
What lacquer is used on guitars?
Typically, when it comes to guitars, the type of lacquer used is either nitrocellulose or acrylic. For a great number of years lacquer was the go-to finish for many products including guitars.
Is acrylic lacquer the same as lacquer?
Acrylic lacquers CAB-acrylic lacquer dries to a less brittle and more flexible film than that of nitrocellulose lacquer. Otherwise, the working properties are much the same: it is best applied by spray equipment, diluted with regular lacquer thinner to obtain the ideal spraying viscosity, and it is fast-drying.
Does acrylic lacquer melt into itself?
That said, acrylic isn’t a perfect substitute. Waterbornes won’t melt in; this makes finishing more time-consuming and repairs more difficult. You must scuff-sand each coat to ensure a good bond.
What brands of guitars are finished with nitrocellulose lacquer?
Which Guitars Have Nitro Finishes? These days, this type of guitar finish is used almost exclusively by Gibson and Fender’s Custom Shop divisions. As these departments mostly produce premium time-honoured instruments, they therefore use nitro finishes to recapture the essence of their older vintage models.
Does nitrocellulose lacquer yellow?
Nitrocellulose lacquers are notorious for yellowing, if at all possible you may want to consider using a cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) acrylic blend. These types of lacquers have been used in the automotive paint industry for many, many years with minimal color change.
Is acrylic lacquer fuel proof?
Only acrylic lacquer is fuel proof. Up to about 20% nitro. Thinners are a cocktail of acetone, mek, toulene, alcohol, zylol, and even mineral spirits.
Is lacquer a durable finish?
Lacquer is tough. It lasts as long or longer than any of its competitors without flaking or chipping. Lacquer is a bit thinner than other products, making it penetrate deeper, which provides a durable seal that protects the wood from the inside out.
Can you paint over a guitar finish?
You can decide to either sand away the finish completely, or you can rough up the finish that’s already on the guitar to put on a fresh coat of paint that’s going to stick to the instrument. Keep in mind that a lot of guitar builders agree that a thick coat of paint or finish will tonally diminish your instrument.
Can acrylic paint be used on a guitar?
So now people are wondering, can you use acrylic paint on a guitar? Definitely yes! Acrylic paint can be safely used on acoustic and electric guitars.
Should I sand between coats of lacquer?
You must scuff-sand each coat to ensure a good bond. Sand too soon and you’ll pull the finish.
What kind of paint do you use on a guitar?
I may be mistaken but I believe a lot of guitar companies used to use it. Doesn’t Carvin use along with a polyurethane finish? Acrylic Lacquer is fine. Resists yellowing better than nitro, can use as a single stage, has a bit of elasticity to it (compared to nitro).
What kind of lacquer to use on a guitar?
Enamels – once its on and you made a run or a fish eye or orange peel, there is no practical way to wet sand it out and respray without losing all your work. Does Acrylic lacquer cure (and dry) faster than nitrocellulose lacquer? Wouldn’t Acrylic lacquer be a good choice for guitar finishes?
What kind of lacquer do you use for acrylic paint?
AL provides a long-lasting lacquer finish result that can be polished to a very high gloss. For additional color depth and extra protection for a show quality finish, AL can be clear-coated with CL3245 High-Performance Lacquer Clear (Not included, but available separately).
Which is better for guitar lacquer, acrylic or nitrocellulose?
Easier to work with, faster curing with the benefit of being able to wet sand between coats for high gloss sheen. Where am I wrong? Click to expand… Yes, acrylic does dry faster than nitrocellulose and I think it would be a good choice for a guitar finish.