Official Luthiers Forum!

Just now finishing a guitar with Target EM6000. The can I'm using is unfortunately gloss, so how do a get a matte or satin finish from that? Will wet sanding to 800 grit do? Buff or not?

You can do as you say and stop sanding when you like the sheen of the finish. However I've found that any finish which is gloss will polish up overtime with use. On a guitar body you'll likely see this start where the players arm rest on the guitar. The movement from playing guitar will polish the finish overtime.

If you want a satin or matte finish that will hold its sheen than you need to start with that type of finish. Or you can add a flattening paste to your gloss finish before applying (with some types of finish). With the EM6000 I think you would want to use the Satin finish next time around.

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
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House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

If you want a matte finish that STAYS matte, you can borrow a trick from the kustom rod painters and put a pinch of cornstarch or talcum powder in the clear.... make sure you keep agitating the cup while spraying.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Scuffing a surface to make it a matte finish will just gloss back up very quickly from wear....

You need to add a refractory paste to your finish and this is almost always specific to the coating being used. Cornstarch or talc will take away gloss, also will take away clarity. Hot rod cars are painted solid colors and do not attempt to show fine wood grain through their finishes.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Brian is correct.... for see-through finishes, your paint seller should be able to sell you (or add) a flatting agent (usually a fumed silica known as Cab-O-Sil). Believe it or not, it's an inert thickening agent that is edible. Ketchup makers add it, and restaurants used to add it to gravy. I remember this from high school plastics class, for some idiot reason.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Best not to inhale fumed silica.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Yeah..... What's your point? I wear a mask even when I shoot latex paint.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

My point was that if any newbies started handling fumed silica it's best if they mask up.
- ?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Jeez Chris.

My point is you mask up for ANY sprayed finish. So it follows.....

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Some of us just stand down wind and hold our breath.

Clay said,
"Some of us just stand down wind and hold our breath. "

Actually, I hate to admit it, but I have sprayed a few with water based that way before I smartened up.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

If you stand downwind isn't it blowing at you?

"If you stand downwind isn't it blowing at you? "

Cheap high! (you're right - I should have said upwind, down wind is for hunting)

A fellow I knew was subbing for a finisher where he worked in the city. Some time during the day he heard a knock on the back door. When he opened it he found some poor derelict with an empty soda can and some change in his hands. He asked my friend if he could buy some "can". Apparently the regular finisher would sell these guys small amounts of lacquer thinner for "huffing".
There are two solvents I don't mind ingesting, but neither in excess - Water and Alcohol. The rest of them I would rather not even smell.
I do have and use a respirator when the need arises.