Official Luthiers Forum!

Sorry for all the post this evening, I've been chugging along have a bunch of questions.

I have sprayed an opaque black lacqer on the sides of the guitar with a light fade on the back and top for the sunburst effect. I have nothing else on the top or back other than a light spray of clear lacquer. When I go to cover the back and top with the clear nitro do I also spray the sides? Based on the "burn-in" effect of Nitro, I wouldn't want the clear nitro to eat into and dilute the black opaque nitro that ive been busy building up.

Thanks!

Yes, you want to spray clear over the entire guitar. The clear lacquer over the
black will not dilute the black. You want to build up a number of coats
before you sand level so you do not sand into the color coats.

Louis

_________________
- Louis Freilicher

Oh No! Not another learning experience!

Bingo! What Louis said!

   Also, the finish of the clear will give a deeper look than the opaque black. If you cover the whole guitar the depth of reflection will look more even.

How many coats of clear are you planning on spraying?

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Thanks for the replies! I've never dealt with spraying Nitro before sos when I saw the black eatting into the previous layers of black I got worried that the clear would do the same thing and dilute the black. But this clears it up.

I was thinking maybe 4 or 5 coats of clear, something I can do over an entire day. Is this enough?

I've got no experience with spraying laquer, but definitely put on enough clear coats on top so you don't sand through into or below the color coats. That is perhaps the biggest downer to have to deal with. I'm not sure how much is enough, it probably depends on how smooth the surface is before and after spraying, among other things.

The main advice i would give is to not plan your finishing around time. Take as much time as it takes to do it right, be it a day, a week or a month.   10 years from now you won't care that you got it done in a timely manner, but you will care that you did it right.