Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey Folks,

I searched the archive and didn't find anything on this.

What is the minimum temperature that nitro will spray and cure in? Currently around my part of the world the temperature is in the 0C to 5C degrees (32-41F) range. I work in a rented garage and don't have heating so I'm at the mercy of the weather. I'm going to have a guitar ready to spray some time this winter hopefully and I'd like to be able to finish it, but I'm concerned that it will never cure or something else bad will happen.

Thanks in advance!

Too cold Graham,

Something bad will happen, you will end up with cloudy patches, that's bad! Probably should be over 17 C (62 F). Some portable electric heaters from Canadian Tire will get you going for your spray job. Every once in a while they have construction heaters (those big cube electric heaters) on sale, I have one for using in houses that I use to gut and re-build. You need 220 for them though. But you could build a poly tent inside your garage and heat it with a smaller heater, heat the tent, remove the heater, spray, let the fumes disapate and put the heater back in the tent and so on. Don't get blown up though!

That just one idea.

Shane

Shane

_________________
Canada

    Room temp. 68 on up. Too low and you can get all kinds of problems. You can try radiant heat lamps to heat the object.
     It is best to spray in a controlled athmosphere
john hall

Well thanks for the advice guys. I may wait until spring to finish any guitars. Instead I'll just focus on building for now.

That's not my expeience. I have sprayed nitro at pretty cold temeratures (I only spray outside), 5 C should not be a problem. I also leave my instruments hanging out in the cold garage to outgas in cold temperatures, so far no problems. One advantage is that the air is very clean, no bugs!

_________________
Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Hey Graham, PM me and I can give you a few ideas.

Todd,

I had actually though about heating the nitro, but I wasn't sure if that would help since the guitar its self would still be cold.

Addam,

PM on its way.

Thanks

What is the thinking about MAXIMUM air temp for spraying nitro? I sprayed some last summer when the air in my shop was probably 80F or so. Seems like it was a bear to sand the final coat and I suspect the temp didn't give it a chance to flow out well.
Any thoughts, anyone?
Nelson   P.S. It is NOT 80F in my shop today.

Heating nitro to 130-140 degrees would really make me nervous. That stuff
can be explosive! But, I too, heat the lacquer but only to about 110 degrees.
I find it flows much better at temperature. BUT I would not spray nitro at
temperatures below 65 degrees.

_________________
Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com

careful gentle warming of nitro is an old trick. gibson has, i believe, been doing it almost forever. it aids flowout and burn in.
       
however, the words of caution are well advised, but using a water bath heater, good exhaust ventilation to prevent fume buildup, and ensuring there are no open flames or exposed heating elements are good safty precautions.crazymanmichael38694.6800694444

I am not sure if you are aware of this or not... but StewMac has a primer on their site about sraying nitro from a rattle can... and they are spraying in the dead of winter.

I think Dan Erlewine put this material together.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com