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I tried to find my old posts (threads on this)...sorry for yet another thread on this subject. I have the top of my repair guitar fully sanded to wood, dings filled in with lacquer and 2-3 sanding coats applied. Its time for the finish layers. The question is how many, and do I have to sand between (actually, should I sand) between layers. Once final layer is down, I planned to start with 400 grit, then 600, then move on to micro-mesh. I have some of that auto polish/compound stuff I have heard about in here. I was planning on using a polishing arbor with that. Anybody want to correct/modify the recipe? Help is appreciated.

Mike

I shoot 4-6 coats...each about an hour apart. Then let it cure for two weeks. Level sand to about 400 grit and shoot 4-6 more coats. Let cure for two weeks and then wet sand as youy described. It really helps to let the lacquer cure out sufficirntly before sanding.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ, why do you cure between the coats for so long? Every recipe I have seen or tried only cured the lacquer before the wet sand /buff operation. I would think you could spray 4-6 coats of lacquer, wait overnoght or a day or so, and then level sand with 400. Then spray 4-6 more coats and sit for 2 weeks then wetsand and buff.

Blake

I only wait an hour between coats. I wait 2 weeks while it cures before sanding. There are 2 sanding sessions...one for leveling before applying the next 4-6 coats and the final wet sand & buff.

My experience is that it sands much more efficiently the longer it cures. It will shine up to a greater sheen the longer you wait for final sanding. Hard, cured lacquer sands much better than partially cured (softer) lacquer. It takes patience but I believe it's worth the wait.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Thanks! Great recipe JJ.

For the final buff (after wet sand/micro mesh) can someone suggest a polish recipe?

Mike