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 Post subject: Tinted lacquer
PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2018 1:20 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 9:06 am
Posts: 102
First name: Mark
Last Name: Gammell
State: NE
Country: USA
Is there anything wrong with building thickness with tinted (opaque) lacquer? Everything I read talks about applying a color coat or two and build clear coat on top of it. I like the way some old guitars look like there's no clear on top of the color, and I'm building a guitar that would suit that look. Or is here a better way to achieve it, and still have it be a durable finish?


Thanks!

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 Post subject: Re: Tinted lacquer
PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2018 1:57 pm 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5743
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
I've done it, and I learned from old hot rod painters to use tints to build a thickness with incredible depth when finally buffed out. Wish I had good pix, but I did a Gibson L6-S years ago in black, then a bunch of raspberry tinted color coats, alternated with coats of clear. Viewed straight on, it was a rich black with dark purple highlights on the edges, reminded me of a Concord grape. Viewed from an angle, it looked like a black cherry. Dark blue tints over black look great, too - and amber tints with clear on a maple neck glow like honey in sunlight. It's a very valid technique - have it at, Mark.

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These users thanked the author Chris Pile for the post: Ken McKay (Sun Sep 23, 2018 1:39 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Tinted lacquer
PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2018 9:04 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 9:06 am
Posts: 102
First name: Mark
Last Name: Gammell
State: NE
Country: USA
Thanks! Something I thought of: I've got binding on this guitar. Since building thickness with color means I can't scrape the binding til late in the game, will this leave too big a ledge? Is there something that can be done about it? Am I over thinking it?

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 Post subject: Re: Tinted lacquer
PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2018 9:09 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:02 am
Posts: 3227
Location: The Woodlands, Texas
First name: Barry
Last Name: Daniels
Yes that is a real issue. That is why most finishers do the color in the first few coats, scrape the binding, and then apply lots of clear coats. Another thing that can be done to minimize the ledge is to use more thinner and less lacquer in the color coats.

By the way, is your name Bill Braske or Mark Gammell?


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 Post subject: Re: Tinted lacquer
PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2018 10:11 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 9:06 am
Posts: 102
First name: Mark
Last Name: Gammell
State: NE
Country: USA
Thanks. I'm guessing I'll end up going the clear coat route.

My name's Mark. Bill Braske was an unseen character from a SNL skit. I latched onto it for situations when I use a fake name. That and Turd Ferguson.

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 Post subject: Re: Tinted lacquer
PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2018 11:23 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:02 am
Posts: 3227
Location: The Woodlands, Texas
First name: Barry
Last Name: Daniels
I forgot that name. Wasn't that a Dan Aykroyd character?

I think clear coating on top of color makes it easier to get a glossy finish. Sanding marks show up in colored lacquer more than clear, especially if it is a dark color. Black is the worst.


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 Post subject: Re: Tinted lacquer
PostPosted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 6:04 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:06 pm
Posts: 2739
Location: Magnolia DE
First name: Brian
Last Name: Howard
City: Magnolia
State: Delaware
Zip/Postal Code: 19962
Country: United States
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
Guitars with no clear coat? Can you cite examples?

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