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Does anyone know of a chemical stripper to use on KTM-9. I did a neck that I am very unhappy with (blue cast) and I really don't want to have to sand it all off. Any thoughts?

I (think) Denatured alcohol will work.

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I don't know if they have the same brand in the USA, but over hear there are a range of strippers called Nitromores, the Yellow one will strip KTM9. RussellR38631.5755092593

Paul,

Don't ask me how I know this, but the citrus stripper you can get at most paint stores and HD works pretty well. DA won't touch it after a few days.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

I have had great success using Denatured Alcohol to soften KTM-9 to make it easily removed. I've soaked a cloth, and laid it over the area, and it softens very well in just a few minutes.

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Paul!!! Blue cast With Ktm-9???? I get it with Target but I just dont see it with KTM-9 I have checked in severl lighting conditions on a four or five differnt woods. What wood are you using just for couriosity sake. mabe it is more noticable on some woods

The cast is really only visible under sunlight conditions and is on the ebony headplate and the black binding of the fingerboard. I talked to the guys at the company and they tried to blame the wood. Stating that ebony has lots of resins and that is what is making the cast, not the KTM-9. They backtracked really fast when I told them it was also visible over black valcanized fiber (which as far as I'm aware, doesn't have many resins).
I find it kind of funny how every time a new waterborne comes out it claims to be completely free of blue cast. Not the case in my experience.

Paul I am pretty sure there is some blue cast in any waterbore. nature of the beast don't you know. It is just a mater of degree. I have not use it on any black plastic or fiber of any size and no ebony of any size either. Black is probably the tell-tell color but I have to say IMO Ktm-9 beats the heck out of Target on this issue

Paul,
There are some envioro friendly water based strippers out there that will strip it but they take a bit longer than the really nasty stuff. Olympic is a brand that comes to mind and it comes in a gel form as well.
good luck

Indeed, it is the nature of the beast which is what I tried to explain to them. Water molecules refract as blue.
Yes, it's better than any I've tried in the past, but not good enough.
Anyone want to barter for 2/3 of a gallon of KTM-9?

If the shipping wasn't so much from you to me I'd give you $45 or $50

Paul

I've got 1 1/2 gallons of the stuff that I don't know what to do with. I have decided to give Nitro a try. I work with the stuff on a regular basis in the cabinet work I do anyway.

So what kind of finish will you be switching to???

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
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Looks like Poly.

Paul,
before you strip it, maybe give it a little more time to cure. Your comment
about water refracting light as blue really shouldn't be an issue, because
any water that's in the material initially has long since evaporated, leaving
only solids behind. I have never seen even the slightest blue cast in KTM.
How heavy were the coats you were spraying, and also, have you tried
rubbing out a small test area to see if it goes away?

I know everyone likes the look of laquer, but I have made a conscious
decision to continue with waterborne finishes for several reasons. First,
it's likely that laquer will be banned completely in the not-too-distant
future and we will find ourselves back at square one if we haven't gotten
up to speed with non-toxic finishes. Second, many people are really
spraying laquer illegally. The equipment to meet OSHA regulations is
expensive and I would bet most spray booths put together by individual
luthiers probably don't meet those regulations. Lastly, at our Sunday
meeting of New England Luthiers we were commenting on the number of
well-known luthiers who have serious health issues. Once we started
listing them it was a little unnerving. Their problems are all associated
with the toxic nature of the woods we use and the volatile chemicals in
finishing materials. It's not just spraying with a mask that keeps you
protected. How many times have you opened the can of laquer, poured it
into the gun and added thinner to it without an organic mask on? These
chemicals are deadly. Even if you pay someone else to do the spraying,
Do you want to see them pay the ultimate price for your beautiful guitar?
And what about the compounds at the buffing wheel? None of us take all
the precautions we should be taking. I have 2 grandchildren on the way. I
want to be here long enough to get to know them. Sorry for the soapbox
response, but I want to be able to see posts here from all of you for a
good long time.
Craig

Craig, not to diminish your point at all but instead to reduce the anxiety level of some small shop luthiers that spray nitro. You have to employ a specific number of employees to governed by OSHA Hobbyist are most certainly not governed by OSHA. So no need to run out and hire an lawyer just yet. But If you spray nitro, do take precautions to protect yours and those that will be around the vapors health. Craig is right there it is bad stuff. MEK is probably the worst solvent/catalist we work with in luthierie.

Craig

I have to stand up in support of your point, At the end of the day even if the legislation doesn't apply they didn't implement it for fun.

At the end of the day we have to accept that sometimes with water base it may look different to what we are used to, but is that not a case of re-education, over here it is hard to find any one who will spray Nitro.

I'm not knocking Nitro just presenting an alternate view.

[QUOTE=Pwoolson] Looks like Poly. [/QUOTE]

Paul,

have you ever tried the European two part polys? I am a big fan!