Official Luthiers Forum!

I like my necks to be matte finished, but as translucent as possible. I've only ever used tung oil for this for refinishing my own guitars before I started building my own. I will be home soon and I will be finishing up my first and second when I get home. I don't want to flub the finish so I am debating which combination to go with.

Matte finishes can be done with nitro correct? But is it cloudy? I have a 3 piece neck that looks nice so I dont want to screw it up.

For the top, back and sides I am going to go with FP (first time) on one and nitro on the other.

I've got shellack ordered but I am not sure were to get nito. Is that something Home Depot will have?

Last question. besides Zpoxy and eggs, what are some other pore fillers. I am interested in cheap and good looking. Thanks.

You should be able to get nitro at Home Depot or Lowes(Watco or Deft). As far as clarity of the satin finish, I've seen clear and cloudy finishes like that on factory guitars. I'd be willing to bet it has something to do with either the amount of flattening agent in the lacquer or how pure the lacquer is(ie; plasticizers, drying agents, etc.), or how thick you lay it on, but I've never sprayed a satin finish so I don't know for sure.
As far as pore fillers, the oil based/paste fillers should be fine as well. That is what many factories used for a long time(that was all that was available for a while), and some still use them. They don't seem to have a problem getting a quality, good looking finish. I have not used anything but CA so far, and that was under a solid color. I plan to switch to Zpoxy on my next.

_________________
Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Do not use the Deft , there are better products out there. Deft is for furniture . Satin can be very clear . I use Behlen's or Shirwinn Williams. The Behlens is available through Grizzly . I also recommend their vinyl sealer. Instrument grade lacquer is a bit different than furniture finish. I had used Deft in my early days. Of all the guitars I used it on , they are a cracked and hazed . Of the instrument grade finish , not a crack or haze.
It isn't that much more to get the right stuff. I just started guitar 111 and 112. I do admit that at this time I no longer finish as I don't have the time , I send my guitars out to Dale Bartholemew in Easton . He uses Shirwinn Williams and I like the product and end results.

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

You can rub out a gloss finish to satin with steel wool or similar. If the satin surface then wears down, you'll see glossy again. If you start with a satin finish, which will pretty much be the same as the gloss version but with a flattening agent in it, worn areas will remain satiny. A decent satin lacquer will be quite clear and not obscure the beauty of the wood.

I don't know that there's a problem per se with "furniture" lacquer on instruments, but a guitar or a few takes such a small quantity of finish that there's no sense not getting the good stuff.

+1 on Deft being junk regardless (even for furniture).

Peace,
Sanaka

_________________
...imagine there were no hypothetical situations...

For the most part "furniture finishes" don't contain the plastizers found in finished made specifically for musical instruments. This can lead to crazing, cracking ect. I've never use "furniture lacquer" on a guitar so I can't say this actually happens in the real world. Satin finishes contain silicates to change the way light is reflected. They will wear more.....shiney, but will never become a full gloss. Satin finishes(on necks) feel slicker to me. This varies from player to player. I guess we each have different skin. A steel wooled gloss finish feels the same as a satin finish to me, but will wear shiney, and get sticky feeling to me. I've been using catalyzed urethane on necks for several years, and blending satin to gloss from the back of the neck, to the heel and headstock on the last couple coats. I'm experimenting with an oil varnish for this now, but haven't decided done enough research to switch. I'll continute to use satin, blended to gloss if the client doesn't want something else. The stickness I feel with gloss finished necks is felt on satin necks by some.

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/