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Sweat and Nitro
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Author:  Josh H [ Wed Aug 25, 2010 12:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Sweat and Nitro
I've had a chance to see a few of my guitars come back through the shop this summer for maintenance and I've noticed some slight bubbling of the finish in spots that are always in contact with the players skin. For example one of my customers plays with his chin resting on the upper bout of the guitar. Another player who plays a lot of indoor/outdoor has the same thing happening on the neck. What I'm wondering is if it is normal for nitro to react this way from exposure to certain peoples sweat? I played one of my own guitar for several years without experiencing anything like this, but I am always wiping down the guitar and I don't generally sweat when I play. I haven't found this to be a widespread problem on my guitars, just on 2 or 3 out of the 60+ I've built.

Any of you other Nitro user have any experience with this?

thanks

Josh
Author:  jackwilliams [ Wed Aug 25, 2010 12:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sweat and Nitro
I had a similar situation a while back, crazing of the finish where the customer's arm rested on the lower bout.. after some discussion, it turned out that the guy had used an insect/misquito repellant, and we concluded that was probably the culprit, although the sweat could have been problematic too.
I was able to re-level the finish and buff it back out, but it was still visable.
regards,
jack
Author:  Kent Chasson [ Wed Aug 25, 2010 12:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sweat and Nitro
Nitro is notorious for having all kinds of problems with sweat, particularly where deodorants are used as well. I've never heard of bubbles but it wouldn't surprise me.

And it does seem to depend on the person's body chemistry. If someone has corrosive sweat, the catalyzed finishes seem to do well.
Author:  Pat Foster [ Wed Aug 25, 2010 1:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sweat and Nitro
I know a guy with several Martins, 70s era one that he got new, and some going back to the 50s, all of which he's owned for a long time. They all have the same problem in the same place. It seems to depend on the content of the sweat.

Pat
Author:  TonyKarol [ Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sweat and Nitro
yep .... I have seen a students guitar where the neck and top of the lower bout have bubbled, right where he is making contact with it .. first one I ever saw like that. But is does happen.

I had a clients guitar in today ... setup change ... and onthe back was an area that looked like suntan or bug spray damage . says he never used any, and then told me his LP has the same thing. Nothing on the neck though .. weird ....

For sure wiping the area will help .... I put him onto a good polish/cleaner .... its all in the acidity of the sweat ... or too much garlic laughing6-hehe

my personal guitar gets a hazy look where my right forearm crosses the body .. but it pretty much wipes off, even after a couple weeks wihtout a clean.
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sweat and Nitro
My daughter eats nitro. The McFaddens on the guitar I made for her softens and can be scraped by a fingernail on the neck and where her arm touches the lower bout. Everywhere else it's fine. I've taken to cleaning and shellacing over it but it's a losing battle.
Author:  Mike Lindstrom [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 12:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sweat and Nitro
I learned this summer that sun tan lotion will melt nitro, even if it's just the little bit in body lotion and you wash your hands off after rubbing it on.

Mike
Author:  Josh H [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sweat and Nitro
Interesting stuff. I would have never through that deodorant could have an affect on the finish where your arm rest on the guitar, but it makes sense. Maybe bubbling wasn't the best description for what I saw but it was the only way I could think to describe it.

I too have had similar experiences with bug spray and sunscreen.

Josh
Author:  Fred Tellier [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sweat and Nitro
I don't know for sure of the after finish effects, but many grooming products can contaminate a finish while it is being applied. I am a retired electrician from the auto industry, I spent the last 15 years working in the paint department and they had signs posted everywhere warning of the products that were banned for use by workers. Most deodorants were on the list as were perfumes. I am a person with sweat that marks guitars and I wipe the touch areas with a damp cloth quite regularly.

Fred
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