Official Luthiers Forum!

I was just wondering what folks thought about skipping the sealer step on a finish. I would be using Behlen products.

Or would I be breaking some sort of unwritten luthier taboo?

There is no need for sealer under a nitro lacquer finish. Depending on the sealer it can impair adhesion; it does not improve adhesion. The only reason for it is if your finishing schedule calls for the first coat to be sanded. Even then it is not necessary.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Finishing is a process but it has many techniques . I agree that with Nitro you can start right off without a sealer . If I do I like to use a thinned mix to start then build up to about a 10% cut. I do use a sealer if I use a stained filler to avoid bleeding into the finish. If I do use a sealer I will use the sealer from the same manufacturer of Nitro . I do use Behlen or Mowhawk. I use the vinyl sealer and not shellac.

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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

Another reason to use a sealer is to SEAL in things like oil from woods like cocobolo or woods that like to bleed.

Howard;
Do you use shellac as a sealer coat and / or to improve adhesion?
I started using Mohawk vinyl sealer after having the finish fail to stick on EIR. I could literally peel the finish off with a palette knife. The adhesion was fine on the spruce top and the mahogany neck.
It could be the rosewood was contaminated with something, but after that one experience I've been chicken to use lacquer without a sealer coat. I stripped the finish on the back & sides, cleaned the wood thoroughly with naptha (which I did before the first spraying) & re-sprayed using vinyl sealer. No further problems.
Once bitten......