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I know a lot about woodworking, guitar building, fixing, pickups, setup, acoustic or electric, etc. But I’m a complete rookie when it comes to finishing. So I bought a Stewmac ES-335 kit with the aerosol finish kit. I also got their fantastic book on Finishing. It says that aerosols are inexpensive, no setup costs, so easy and the best way for a beginner to get started. But they also talk about explosion proof fans, lights and switches. None of that is cheap. So which is it?!?

I have basement workshop. Besides a mask, do I need ventilation? Do I need an exhaust fan? Explosion proof?

Vevor had these 8” exhaust fans (900 cfm) with flexible duct for $100. I thought about cutting a hole in the side of my house to draw the exhaust out, I don’t have a window. I’ve got spare siding to patch it with.

Thoughts?


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Welcome Ryan. I finished my first guitar which was also an StewMac kit with their rattle can stuff and that book as well. You can do pretty good finishing with a rattle can but there are some things to know.

First the amount of solids in the lacquer is significantly more or was back in my day. This simply means that on a very minute level the finish is not as clear but it's below the threshold of most people being able to notice it IMO. The cans start to spit when they get down to the last 1/3 so I set them aside to use for other things and used new cans which cost a bit more.

Yes nitrocellulose lacquer is explosive and the white dust that it produces is the same thing that they used to fire Volkswagen sized shells from the battle ship New Jersey... also known as gun cotton.

With this said explosion proof (sealed from sparks) lighting and ventilation is really required.

Now you can spray in make shift spray booths, outside, a garage, etc. as well just avoid any thing that can spark or have a flame.

Guitar building not only has pretty rigid requirements for spraying lacquer you also need to control humidity or you can get trapped moisture under the finish and that produces a cloudy mess of a finish and is called "blushing."

I sprayed my first in a small, extra bathroom with the exhaust fan on over head. It was stupid, I should not have done this and it's not recommended.

So be safe, wear a respirator, avoid any source of a spark and you can do a pretty good job with rattle cans. I have one upstairs that I did with a rattle can 17 years ago and it still looks great.

Good luck to you.

Thanks for info. So what’s a cheap explosion proof fan?

Vevor has a 10” for $177, flexible ducting for another $40. Anything better?

Sorry I am not up on them these days. Our commercial shop, Ann Arbor Guitars has all explosion proof lighting and fans in our spray booth but that was all put in before our time by Luthier Herb David.

Howdy neighbor (Uppermost NE TN here)

I'm wrapping up that same kit for my brother-in-law, with SM's tobacco burst aerosols.

I did my spraying outside on days when the weather allowed.

I mostly managed to keep the bugs out

Hey send some pictures! I’m going with a Red Mahogany/Amber sunburst, Tabacco brown on the sides.


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One from last night

I spray lacquer outside. The outer surface dries very quickly, I’ve never had a problem with dust or bugs getting on it. The fumes are nasty for an hour or so. I do have to wait for good weather.

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Nice guitar and burst Ryan, good going!

While I hope mine turns out that nice, that was from Skarsaune... not ME!

Did you sand the top across the body or tail to neck.

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee