Removing Lacquer

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Dave M
Blackwood
Posts: 595
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 6:44 am
Location: Somerset UK

Removing Lacquer

Post by Dave M » Thu Aug 06, 2020 2:23 am

I had to remove a bridge and made a bit of a mess so decided to refinish the top. (I wasn't too happy with the finish anyway)

And Gosh it's hard work isn't it! The nitro had been on for a while so was fully hardened and it's tough stuff. Welcome I suppose in terms of wear. It has also demonstrated that I am definitely putting the stuff on too thick.

It is also improving my performance at sharpening scrapers!

Dave
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Remove lacquer small.jpg
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Dave

seeaxe
Blackwood
Posts: 768
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 7:20 pm
Location: Auckland NZ

Re: Removing Lacquer

Post by seeaxe » Thu Aug 06, 2020 5:29 am

I've taken the nitro off a few times on the last ones i tried to spray but was it new and soft so was fairly easy. So now I've swapped to FP i only have to brush it with a fingernail and i have a scratch while its freshly done.

If you're in business I can understand why a nitro or similar finish is preferred. It would be interesting to see whether the finish makes any difference structurally.

I like the bigger white purfling strip on that guitar Dave. Would you mind sharing how you did that?
Richard

Dave M
Blackwood
Posts: 595
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 6:44 am
Location: Somerset UK

Re: Removing Lacquer

Post by Dave M » Fri Aug 07, 2020 2:06 am

Richard I go for nitro for it's wear resistance, this one in particular being a steel string.

The binding is made from strips cut from the side so is a good match. The purfling is maple, cut roughly to size on the bandsaw then taken to size on the thickness sander. I keep trying different binding/purfling schemes and on this one I specifically wanted to separate the two halves of the back given the dark and relatively plain grain of the Walnut. I would probably use a thinner line on another build though I am pretty happy with this one.

Dave
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Dave

johnparchem
Blackwood
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Re: Removing Lacquer

Post by johnparchem » Fri Aug 07, 2020 3:49 am

A respirator, good ventilation and lacquer thinner or stripper?

seeaxe
Blackwood
Posts: 768
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 7:20 pm
Location: Auckland NZ

Re: Removing Lacquer

Post by seeaxe » Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:10 am

I think that thicker light line looks great Dave. You've "nailed" it!!
Richard

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Cutty
Wandoo
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Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2014 2:28 pm
Location: Adelaide, SA

Re: Removing Lacquer

Post by Cutty » Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:58 pm

I like the jig for holding it down on the bench, what a great idea!

Dave M
Blackwood
Posts: 595
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 6:44 am
Location: Somerset UK

Re: Removing Lacquer

Post by Dave M » Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:32 am

I make no claims Cutty. It is Trevor Gore's design for a cradle for use with the binding channel router jig. The idea to use it finally came to me after I had chased the box around the bench for a while !
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Dave

quartpopt
Gidgee
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2014 4:37 pm
Location: Stanthorpe QLD

Re: Removing Lacquer

Post by quartpopt » Sat Aug 08, 2020 9:16 am

Cutty wrote:
Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:58 pm
I like the jig for holding it down on the bench, what a great idea!
Well worth making for cutting binding channels.

blackalex1952
Blackwood
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Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:36 pm
Location: North East Victoria

Re: Removing Lacquer

Post by blackalex1952 » Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:16 pm

Has anyone tried spraying the old hard nitro with nitro lacquer thinners in order to soften it up before scraping? I have a guitar that I sprayed a year ago and the lacquer on the sides has aged to the point of having fine cracks in it. I'm thinking of trying a pure lacquer spray to see if it "melts" a bit and the cracks disappear? The soundboard and back have not exhibited this behavior. I would like to avoid having to scrape and sand the sides, a much more intense job than on the soundboard and back. Cheers -Ross
"Everything I say on the topic is based solely upon inexperience and assumption!"

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