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Hi folks, i just received my Lee Valley catalog and while going through the finishing pages and came across this:

A spray gun that doesn't need any cleaning

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=20048&cat=1,19 0,43034&ap=1

And some lacquer that doesn't need sanding between coats

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=45092&cat=1,19 0,42942

Just thought i'd ask if any of you had used these products and what you think of them.

TIA

Serge

Serge I used Deft's lacquer on a pair of stereo speaker cabinets I built. I brushed it on and you could see brush strokes and ripples after every coat. I didn't sand between coats because I wasn't looking for the quality of finish you would put on a guitar. I still had to wet sand and buff once it was done.

Deft's stinks to high heavens and is every bit as explosive as McFadden's or Mohawk lacquer.    

Thanks Anthony, if this was used with a spray gun, do you think one would need to level-sand between coats?

Serge, my friend, I've got two letters for you: F.P.

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Ok dude, i got the message, i know i can't avoid it now! It just seem soooo complicated

What a lazy wimp i am!

No complications what so ever... A bit of shellac, thinner and some olive oil, no fancy equipment needed, and you're good to go....

I find the hardest thing is to just take it easy loading up the muneca... Once you know how to load it up, the rest is fairly easy...

You'll see... I'll make a believer out of you yet!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Serge, I honestly don't know as I've never tried to spray it. My suspicion is that with Deft's you'd have to follow the same finishing regime as any other nitro product.

Alain - I never tire of seeing pictures of that guitar.

Ok bud, i'll PM ya for a FP meeting, still wanna be my coach?

Thanks Anthony, you rock too my friend!

[quote]and is every bit as explosive as McFadden's or Mohawk lacquer. [/quote]

    Getting all jacked-up on lacquer fumes and then go boom! Sounds Like fun!

    Lacquer advantages are, it dries fast, and hard! I worked some fender skirts for a friend of mine's Jaguar. I did all the work in one day for a quick job and they came out great, after rub out! Lacquers kind of a no brainer, so to speak

Depends on your situation!

Billy Dean Thomas

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Too complicated for me!!!

I simply don't have access to anywhere that is dustfree and temp controlled to spray.

I kinda like the satin finish with Danish Oil anyway.......

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My soundclick xx luthier blog xx luthier soundclick

Thanks guys, has anyone tried it though?

[QUOTE=Anthony Z]

Alain - I never tire of seeing pictures of that guitar.[/QUOTE]

Well I do...    I'm trying to make an effort and always post new pics... but it's the same guitar!    Guess I should get cracking on no.3, eh?

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Serge, The Deft Brushing lacquer works well applied with a spray gun. I used a Campbell-Hausfeild gravity feed spray gun. I did thin the lacquer and shot lite coats. Just like other lac's it will need to be sanded between sessions to level. I like to wait 3 weeks to a month to buff it out.

I never have used one of the little sprayers. They have been around for many years so someone here has used one surley.

Serge, I spray with McFaddens lacquer.I've got a small compressor that works well and I actually enjoy finishing. I know some people dread this part of our craft! I think you said you don't have a place for spraying so I would take Alains advice and learn the french polish. I'm sure with a little practice and patience you will be fine. Another thing to learn eh?

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Serge,
If I can do it..... Anybody can!

The Milburn tutorial sounds complicated at first but it's really pretty easy once you get the knack.

Just practice on a piece of scrap first.

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Horton, MI

Serge, spraying out of a can as Hesh suggests might not be a bad idea. If you pick up your Deft Spray Cans at Lee Valley you can also purchase their spray mask and protective rubber gloves.

If you can find a warm day with low humidity (with the neighbours away)you can spray out doors. Probably still not the healthiest way to go but at least you won't go "BOOM"

Serge I have used this lacquer brushed-on on jewelry boxes and a table. It is not any different in my opinion from any other nito other than there is a retarder in it. It brushed pretty well and self leveled fairly flat on horiz. surfaces. I had a bit of trouble with runs on the vertical surfaces but I may have applied a bit to heavy. I have to say that it may not need as much sanding between coats, but sill need some and final leveling.

This gun is just a large single action siphon feed like the old style air brushes Once you get the hang of it it works ok but the air has to be very clean, dry and adjusted just right. Plus you will get a good bit more orange peel with this type of gun be cause of the lack of atomization control. Also there is a delay from the trigger pull to the time media reaches the air flow if the gun has been ideal for a while.

When I first started spraying finishes I used a 2 hp 5 gallon pancake air compressor a water trap and a $20 touch-up gun. I bought the pancake compressor at a pawn shop for $50 the gun, water trap and 30' of hose and a pony tail at HF for $65 and finished 3 guitars with this set-up The compressor was intermittent in operation due to lack of volume at 40 psi which means I could only spray for about 2 min. wait for recycle and do 2 min. again, but It got the job done.

It is cheaper than you may think to set-up a simple spray system. but if I had it to do over I would have started with at least a 20 gallon compressor. an equal expense is setting up the spray inviromentMichaelP38971.5032407407

Thanks for the great input here everyone, i really appreciate that!

Well from what i've read, looks like i better learn to FP first, Alain was kind enough to offer to be my coach sometime this week, i'll give it a serious try.

When it comes to building an instrument, i have all the patience in the world but finishing is still a nightmare to be dealt with, hopefully, with Al's guidance, i'll be able to come to terms with my fears!

Spraying nitro out of a can also, thanks Hesh and Anthony, i'll really try to learn FP first so i don't have to expose myself to the health hazards associated with it though

Again, thanks fellas

Serge

I'm not abandoning the idea of a spraying set up for the future, a 20 gallon compressor sounds good Michael, thanks!