Hi folks,
I’m looking for a (spray) high gloss finish with a high build, similar to what is used on electric guitars, for some jewelry boxes and humidors that I am building. I have tried a slew of different things,from nitrocellulose laquer to catalyzed automotive finishes with no luck. A friend suggested finding out what they use on custom airplane and yacht inteiors – this is really killer stuff, it looks 1/4 inch thick and is smooth as glass. Does anyone have any ideas where to obtain this stuff and how it works? I will be spraying this with a compressor and spray gun.
Replies
Birdseyeman,
In my experience, electric guitars are finished with spray laquer - lots of coats. But if that and automotive finishes don't give you what you need, maybe you are looking for casting resin. It can't be sprayed. It's usually poured onto the surface.
Casting resin is the only thing that will build that thick. It's water-white. Can't remember brand names, but Ace has it on the shelf both in their fiberglass, resin section and in the varnishes section as a super thick finish. Kind of ugly, though to finish wood with that. It's the ultimate "encased-in-plastic" effect.
Rich
Two coatings used for the look you describe include polyester and acrylic urethane (aka - automotive clear coat). Target Coatings (.com) also has a water-base coating that has the build and look of polyester. With any of these coatings you will get full grain fill, and once buffed, a "wet" look gloss.
Target Coatings has a strong presence in the yacht market. They may be your best choice as you will be able to get all the technical guidance needed to achieve the results you want.
Paul
F'burg, VA
you'll find some excellent discussions of guitar finishing at this http://www.mimf.com, you'l have to register for archived discussions. Check it out.
no turn left unstoned
O.K. Don't hate me for this but I was watching Norm again. He was visiting a custom aircraft plant and they said they finsihed the pieces with 17 or maybe it was 19, anyway, lots of coats of lacquer then polished it with a ROS using some super fine polishing paper. The final product looked like it was a sheet of glass.
Steve - in Northern California
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