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 Post subject: Finish blunder
PostPosted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:09 am 
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Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 9:33 am
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First name: Kent
Last Name: Bailey
City: Florissant
State: Colorado
Zip/Postal Code: 80816
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
What to do.
I am currently at a loss. My first guitar project and I may have made a drastic error.
I used the Stewart Mac Kit finishing package they offered as a beginner option.The kit included the filler/sealer/Lacquer and polishing compounds needed to do a guitar. The filler stage seemed like I never got the Rosewood pores filled. Fill/sand/fill/sand forever. Then...my incredible eyesight (reading the can label) sprayed Lacquer instead of sealer coat. I only realized this after I sprayed and sanded 2 coats of Lacquer instead. I chose to continue to coat lacquer finishes instead of attempting to backtrack and seal coat over the lacquer coat I already sprayed.
What I now have are 6 coats of lacquer and some grain lines showing through the finish. My assumption is that I have a finished product with a wood grain detail finish (sides and back) that I will need to live with. I guess that's not all bad. It is at least uniform. The top looks great.
QUESTION: CAN I REVERSE THE PROCESS?
Is it possible to lightly sand the lacquer finish, apply sanding sealer, lightly sand and start the Lacquer finish process all over again...or am I at the point of no fix and no return.
Kent Bailey

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 Post subject: Re: Finish blunder
PostPosted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:10 am 
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Koa
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Location: United States
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I believe some builders use nitro (reduced probably) as sealer, then full weight coats.
You'll be fine.

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 Post subject: Re: Finish blunder
PostPosted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:16 am 
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Cocobolo
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I don't know about reversing the process, if it were me I'd continue sanding and spraying more lacquer; what you are trying to do ( If I understand) is to fill the remaining pores. you'll be okay without the sanding sealer, it'll just take more lacquer to get the job done. Allow plenty of time between coats.


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 Post subject: Re: Finish blunder
PostPosted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:51 am 
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Spray another half duz coats ... let sit for a couple weeks. Flat sand the heck out of it with 400 grit, till the pores are flat (no shine left). Spray another half duz coats. Let sit 3-4 weeks. Go thru the grits and polish/buff.

I dont use sealer at all .... lacquer over scuffed up zpoxy. Most sanding sealers have stearates in them which make the product softer than the lac is ...

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 Post subject: Re: Finish blunder
PostPosted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:51 am 
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Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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One of the differences between laquer and sanding sealer is that the solids in sanding sealer break down very easily compared to laquer. This means that you can certainly use laquer only for your finish but sanding inbetween coats will be a lot more work. Jack is right. Allow plenty of time between coats or the laquer will ball up on you when you try to sand it.


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 Post subject: Re: Finish blunder
PostPosted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:54 pm 
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Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 9:33 am
Posts: 486
First name: Kent
Last Name: Bailey
City: Florissant
State: Colorado
Zip/Postal Code: 80816
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thanks to all who replied. I'm embarrassed that this was even an issue to ask for feedback.
More Lacquer is on the way.....and I'm moving forward.
Kent Bailey

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Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

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