Thanks a lot for those very helpful replies. I will definately give KTM-SV a try.
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| How resistant and durable is KTM9 really? http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=32117 |
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| Author: | Christoph [ Fri May 06, 2011 6:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | How resistant and durable is KTM9 really? |
Hi Folks, On my last 2 guitars I had great success in spraying KTM9 with a HVLP spray gun. The look and feel of the waterbased finish is (up to now) more than sufficient for my personal needs. But right now I build a guitar which will be a present for a singer/songwriter. The artist will play the guitar on stage approx. 20 times a year. The touring comes along with a flight every now and then. In other words: The guitar will see some stage use and traveling in a hard case. After talking to one of the few pro builders in my area, I am unsure about which finish is the right one. According to him, waterbased finishes in general are not durable enough. 3 years down the road a waterbased finish would look really bad. He recommended a Nitro finish (at least for the top). My problems with a Nitro finish are: - I am located in Germany and until today I haven't found a local supplier for Nitro laquer that would suite for guitar finishing. - StewMac and LMI (of course) won't ship the Seagrave (McFadden) laquer overseas. - Letting Joe White do the finish is not an option (because of the shipping costs). - Letting that local pro builder do a Nitro finish for me would cost around 800 Euros (that are almost 12 Benjamins). Now your expertise and opinion is highly valuated and appreciated: What are your experiences with KTM9 finishes? Do you think it is (or is not) resistant and durable enough for this task? Should I bite the bullet and let someone do a Nitro finish? If you happen to know of a European based source for Nitro laquer, please let me know. Thanks a bunch. |
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| Author: | Don Williams [ Fri May 06, 2011 6:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How resistant and durable is KTM9 really? |
KTM-SV is a better product than KTM-9. It's very easy to spray, looks great, and will stay great looking. I've seen KTM-9 guitars that still look great after a few years, but that's not the issue with KTM-9. Go with the SV or have someone spray polyester. |
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| Author: | meddlingfool [ Fri May 06, 2011 9:51 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How resistant and durable is KTM9 really? |
Indeed. KTM 9 has caused me a lot of grief. The KTM SV is a superior product in every way in my opinion. I also think 800 euro for a spray job is too much. I can get a nitro sunburst in my hood for 350$, and that comes buffed. |
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| Author: | Darryl Young [ Fri May 06, 2011 2:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How resistant and durable is KTM9 really? |
+1 for KTM-SV......it's a harder, more durable finish. If you are using an oily, tropical wood, make sure you get a good seal over the oily wood before applying KTM-SV or it won't hold. I used a thin coat of Zpoxy over EIR and it sealed fine and the KTM-SV adheres fine. |
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| Author: | Christoph [ Fri May 06, 2011 5:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How resistant and durable is KTM9 really? |
Thanks a lot for those very helpful replies. I will definately give KTM-SV a try.
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| Author: | Terry Stowell [ Sun May 08, 2011 12:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How resistant and durable is KTM9 really? |
thumbs down on the ktm -9. I had a guitar that I helped a student spray come back after a couple years from someone who had acidic sweat. It LOOKED as though he had sprayed "Off" brand insect repellant on his hands and went to playing. I also simultaneously sprayed a personal guitar, and it has the same problems, but not nearly as pronounced. His needed the necked stripped completely. I just kiss mine with 1000 grit once or twice a year. I'm not going into a detailed description. I will never use that product again. It was a very expensive mistake on two guitars. |
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| Author: | meddlingfool [ Sun May 08, 2011 12:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How resistant and durable is KTM9 really? |
It was a very expensive mistake on over twenty guitars. SV is great though. My personal tester is holding up beautifullyin spite of my constant malicious abuse. Frankly, I think Grafted Coatings and LMI should stop offering KTM 9 for guitars. SV outperforms it in every way, so why even bother with the 9? |
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| Author: | paul h [ Mon May 09, 2011 9:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How resistant and durable is KTM9 really? |
Did anyone hear back from the people at Grafted about their tests on a good sealer under KTM-SV on oily woods? Paul |
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| Author: | meddlingfool [ Mon May 09, 2011 10:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How resistant and durable is KTM9 really? |
Still pending I believe. I'm sure it takes a while to develope this kind of stuff. I have a guitar that I used my own homemade dewaxed shellac, not Zinsser. I'll be spraying in the near future we'll see how well it goes this time around. |
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| Author: | John Coloccia [ Tue May 10, 2011 6:13 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How resistant and durable is KTM9 really? |
What about Target/Colortone finish? As far as I can tell, this cures tough as nails. What's everyone else's experience, especially compared to KTM9? |
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| Author: | meddlingfool [ Tue May 10, 2011 2:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How resistant and durable is KTM9 really? |
It's ok but for the blue haze. SV has absolutely none of that v |
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