Spraying nitro

[peter.coombe]

Well I am spraying my 3rd guitar with Durabond nitro guitar finish now the weather is warm and dry. Spray outside with a respirator and gloves. We decided the varnish I used on #1 and #2 was not hard enough so went with epoxy fill and nitro. I can certainly understand why nitro is so popular. It is so easy to spray, and dries really hard. However, I am getting loud complaints about the smell from the other half, and I don't like the smell either. How do you guys cope with that horrible nitro smell? The epoxy works beautifully, but once again I hate the smell while it cures. I'm thinking about Target's EM6600 for the next guitar. Tried spraying water borne years ago but gave up when the manufacturer changed the formula and I could not get it to work properly. Could not get rid of the fisheyes, very frustrating. It also tended to clog the gun and I got thoroughly sick and tired of cleaning out the gun so gave up and have been using a brush. The latest EM2000 formula brushes really well.

One positive thing. My girlfriend does not like the smell either and stays out of the workshop. She likes to sneak in every time I forget to close the door, and wants a cuddle. Girlfriend in the workshop is an accident waiting to happen so I try and discourage her, but it doesn't work.

Here she is, Ruby is her name.

[Tod Gilding]

Very Pretty Girlfriend you have there Peter, Mines a bit of a Dog.

[Allen]

Well Peter, I really don't know how to respond. Your girlfriend is gorgeous, and I quite like the smell of lacquer.

[kiwigeo]

Reckon that dawg could use a nice shiney coat of lacquer

[graham mcdonald]

Wait till there is a bit of breeze blowing before you spray, preferably away from the house
I then hang the instrument in a garden shed with the mower where it can dry without the workshop smelling of lacquer

[peter.coombe]

We don't have a garden shed (yet). That is what I was thinking of doing, but I need to build the garden shed first. That will kill two birds with one stone, the other half will be happy to finally get her garden shed.

[J.F. Custom]

How do you guys cope with that horrible nitro smell?

Well for me, a decent double barrel face mask and a room with a view!

spray_booth_3.jpg (386.79 KiB) Viewed 6706 times

Seriously though, I found when spraying up there, any breeze tends to take any overspray and fumes straight up and over any surrounding trees, buildings etc, as opposed to getting caught up in the fray of eddies lower down around the house and garden - generally this disperses it everywhere you don't want. I don't smell a thing with the mask, but of course can still smell it while it cures. Letting it cure in a separate room/area is the easiest solution for that.

However all that said, I'm with you - I hate the smell of it and the knowledge of just how toxic that smell is to me and the environment. Likewise with the epoxy, never mind the potential sensitivity issues Kim raised my awareness of. I too am looking at some water based options as an alternative and it seems many are finding good results with a variety of Target coatings, but certainly the EM6000. Pity you have to buy direct and pay exorbitant freight for it, just to test it out.

I'm not aware of any manufacturer in Australia claiming as good results from a water based product as yet, although I intend to contact Durobond about this one -

"Flexi-Cover®
Self cross-linking flexible acrylic exclusive to Durobond. Use inside or out for surfaces where its tough, flexible and washable film is required eg: Flexible substrates, highly humid areas, surfaces that are washed frequently etc. Suitable for use on vinyl. Available in a clear gloss or clear satin finish. Colours made to order. VOC Free"

Worth asking if this is suitable for instruments or if not, what they suggest in Water based products given they have some experience in the field of successful guitar coatings.

Otherwise I'm looking into Trevor and Gerards French Polishing products and techniques. Some potential there I feel and they are obviously obtaining excellent results. In any case, I hope to "de-toxify" to some extent my finishing regime. Hopefully, customers will accept the alternatives.

They're my thoughts in any case.

Jeremy.