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Hey all,

Just finished applying my ktm 9. Great experience! I've never used a hvlp gun, and this is my first build, but it went well. I had no runs, and it really went on well. I may have applied my coats a little thin, as I went along I realized I could increase the flow of the fluid a little more and it flowed better. Anyway, I'm dying to polish it!!!! I've read a few different things: Greven says wait a week, Doolin says 9 days, and LMI says 2 weeks. Any advice?

Right now the guitar is siting on my spray stand, with the neck on another stand, in my basement. It's very warm, and dry down there so those are the conditions its in.

By the way, thanks to everyone for your advice, and for this forum. I'm greatful!

I will post pics soon.

Sean

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change isn't synonymous with improvement
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Be sure to post some pics after you polish 'er up

I've done it at ten days without problem. I believe technically it's 150 hours cure time. But why not give it a few days grace period, eh?

I always like to leave a lacquer finish cure out for at least 3 weeks, even on waterborne lacquer. The longer you can wait, the more it has shrunk and the harder it will be, the better it will rub out...

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

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I wait a month, the longer you wait the better the polish. I also had a body shop guy tell me to sand first to "release the solvents easier". I haven't tried it tho...


KTM-9 over Zpoxy, fast and easy!!!

Mikey

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www.hammondguitars.com
I love building guitars!

Longer is better - I know you want to polish it soon - I've been there, too. I'd give it two weeks, minimum.

How many coats did you use? Did you sand between coats? Did you need to do any dropfilling?

My experience with KTM9 is that it's a very nice finish, and will polish very well (I wet sand, gradually up to 2000 bofre buffing), but I almost always need to do drop filling, along some of the bindings, and at times in the rosette. If you polish too soon, you'll get it leveled after polishing, then the finish will shrink back and you'll need to go again. I haven't totally figured out how to lick this - perhaps by drop filling before the last coats go on.....

Sean,

What type of HVLP setup did you use - turbine, conversion gun...?

I'm looking to invest in one.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.