Conference napalm::guitar

    See note 248. I did up a Telecaster with Laquer. Urethane provides
    a nice hard shine, but is very difficult to buff. However the finish
    dries, that's the final product, however, lacquer is fairly easy
    to buff to a mirror-like high gloss finish. I will admit though
    that urethane is more durable than lacquer.
    
    Another finishing material is called im-ron. I doubt if anyone uses
    it on musical instruments, but for custom paintjobs on cars it is
    very popular.
    
    Good Luck 
    Mark Jacques
    

    I have a Martin acoustic (c. 1980) and a Gibson electric (c. 1969),
    both of which have some dings in the finish that I'd like to repair.
    Does anybody know what type of finish these manufacturers would use? I
    suspect that the Gibson is either lacquer or polyurethane, and the
    Martin may be lacquer, varnish, or possibly shellac. This is not
    a question of what is the best kind of finish - I need to know what's
    already on there so I can use something compatible.
    
    Yeah, I know I can contact the factories, but I thought I might
    get a quick answer here.
    
    - Ram 

    You might try & call Luthiers Mercantile -> (707) 433-1823, address:
    P.O. Box 774, 412 Moore Lane, Heraldsburg, California, 95448. They
    stock many of the same finishing items as the manufactures use.
    If nothing else, you may wish to order thier catalog. It's loaded
    with construction tips, as well as interviews with instrument builders.
    Many parts are 1/2 the cost of your average music shop (pickups
    & other odds & ends).

    I suspect, that if you call on a week day, that you can get some
    advice on the finish materials, and can order the correct stuff,
    in small quantities to take care of your needs.
    
    I buy quite a bit of hardward from them & ocassionally some wood.
    
    						Jens  

    I'm pretty sure Martin uses lacquer.
    
    Bob

    Thanks for the info on Luthier's Merchantile. I called them yesterday
    and they are going to send me their catalogue. The guy was very
    well informed and helpful. He told me that Gibsons and Martins of
    that vintage are finished with a nitrocellulose lacquer, and that
    analine dyes can be added to the lacquer to match the color. This
    can either be sprayed or brushed on.
    
    I'm looking forward to getting the catalogue.
    
    - Ram

    re: .0
    
    This reply is a little late but may help others ...
    
    A "spar" varnish or poly is intended for items that need a hard
    weatherproof finish. They tend to stay a little softer than other
    finishes to weather better. Stay away from them for guitar or fine
    finish use. 
    
    Lacquer is the best fine finishing product since you can correct your
    mistakes with rubbing out the finish with polishing compound. Also, you
    can keep applying coats and rubbing them out until you get a glass like
    finish. 
    
    Layering different finish products is risky unless you're doing a clear
    finish over a wood stain - that always seems to work no matter what the
    mix. If you are doing colors and plan to use lacquer for the top coat
    then use it for the under finish. 
    
    Even dark colored lacquers are translucent - This is how they can do
    the "Sunburst" type of finish.  Take advantage of this if you are using
    a color and spray a thin coat of silver undercoat before you spray any
    color coats. No, it won't look metallic when you're done, but, it will
    reflect the light back up through the finish for an outstanding shine.
    Plan to do 7 to 10 thin color coats and 2 to 3 clear coats. Rub out the
    finish with polishing compound or a hard cloth like burlap every couple
    of coats. Be extra careful if you rub out the clear coats not to rub
    through to the color. 
    
    You'll find a good selection of colored and clear lacquer at your local
    automotive store. Make sure you get lacquer and not enamel. If you're
    not into air brushes or spray guns, Sherwin Williams sells lacquer in
    spray cans in some basic colors and clear.   

    One of the editors in GFTPM recommended clear nail polish for sealing
    chip marks in your guitar's finish.  Has anyone ever tried this?
    
    Mike

    >One of the editors in GFTPM recommended clear nail polish for sealing
    >chip marks in your guitar's finish.  Has anyone ever tried this?
    
    Yes, I have (but remember, this is the same guy who waxed his own
    pickups). My experience was not that great. Maybe I put it on too
    heavy, but it didn't dry to a hard finish like lacquer. Cosmetically it
    looked ok, but it was kind of rubbery and could be scratched off easily
    with a fingernail. My suspicion is that they put something into the
    nail polish to make it easier to remove. Maybe this varies from brand
    to brand (ask your local cosmetologist! :-)).
    
    - Ram

    So what is good to seal a chip?
    
    Mike

Well I dunno about chips but....

I was converting my lead one into it's current incarnation and when I routed
the strat style input jack hole my router jumped and took a small chip out
at the edge of the hole. My wife comes in with some fingernail polish that
matched real close and I puttied it up, she used a pen to make the grain appear
in the patch and begins to apply polish. My youngest, about 1 1/2 at the time, 
"helps" by applying some acetone (that we used as thinner) to the guitar and 
now I've got several square inches of laquer melting off.....needless to say
I was unimpressed. Today after a couple of coats of that same fingernail polish
most people don't notice....but I do...seems pretty durable though...


dbii

    It depends on what the original finish is, but if it's lacquer I think
    the best thing to fix a chip is real lacquer. I have some furniture at
    home with a lacquered finish, and I've been repairing some dings with
    lacquer that I got from Luthier's Mercantile. I also got a bunch of
    coloring agent from them so I can match the tone of the finish exactly.
    if you put the lacquer on in thin coats and buff in between the repair
    can be absolutely invisible. For really small chips all you probably
    need is a drop or two of lacquer.
    
    - Ram