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So I'm working on my first guitar. It's the Stew Mac Dreadnought kit. And I have the Stew Mac Finishing kit as well.

I just got done putting on the 12th coat of laquer yesterday. I'm about to scuff sand it and leave it for two weeks to harden.

But my problem is this, the laquer finish just doesn't seem like it's very thick. I know it must be because I used all 4 cans. I even had a run in a few spots. But when I touch it...it just doesn't feel like it's as thick as the finish on a guitar i would buy.

Is this because it hasn't been polished and once it is then the reflection gives it some depth? Is it because it's not smooth and I'm mistaking the texture for wood grain? Did I not put enough on? Was there a very important step I missed?

I've never done any wood working before, so I don't have much to comparer it to.

any thoughts?

I would not sand it until it has cured and i was ready to polish/buff it. The finish should be thin, maybe 6- 9 mils on the top and a bit thicker on the rest of he instrument after cured and polished. Factory guitars with that " dipped in plastic'" look have finishes that are too thick IMHO.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

I too am using the same rattle can finish because I don't have spray equipment and I use at least 6 cans especially if I'm shooting the neck.

How many coats does that come to? 18?

Yes 18 sounds about right 3 coats per can doing both the body and neck. I'm doing one today and I got 3 per can. I use the last half of the 6th can for the top.

Thank you for the replies!

I guess I'll put a few more coats on.

I'm using the Stew Mac Clear gloss guitar Lacquer. Do you by any chance know of another brand I can use in the mean time, I don't really feel like ordering more and having to wait. I'd rather run up to a hardware store and get some if that's an option.

Thanks!

Well funny you should mention that? Honestly I'm not comfortable giving advice (I'm new to lacquer) on using a different brand of lacquer in the middle of a project, personally I wouldn't do it. But I did decide to try the local brand of spray lacquer by Deft, picked it up at HD so I didn't have the ordering problems but more importantly it's half the cost. It may turn out to be a complete waste of time we'll have to wait and see. Ultimately I need to get a HVLP set up I just haven't pulled the trigger on it yet.

Check my thread called "The All Sniggly Guitar" the guitar I am building in it was finished with deft rattle cans. Seems hard and sands and buffs nicely.
I used Deft because Lowes carries it so I don't have to order it. I like it a lot so far.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I used Deft rattle cans on my first 2.

Most people say not to use it because it's not an "instrument" lacquer that has added plasticizers in it to make it more elastic & less brittle.

My first 2 guitars are still fine but they're less than 2 years old.

In terms of thickness, I can't say how many coats is ideal but personally I think a nice glow looks more refined & high quality than a thick "bar top" finish which looks dipped like Brian said.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

If you have a Woodcraft nearby they probably have the Behlen String Instrument Lacquer in rattle cans. I'm not sure how the compatibility would be with the Stew Mac stuff, but if I was changing brands mid guitar, I'd probably go that way.

I have no experience with either. I'm mainly suggesting another source.

Then again, Stew Mac is pretty quick to ship and you don’t have to worry about the extra time it takes to remove finish if you have compatibility issues.

Good Luck,

John

I would add that on your next guitar you should have a test panel on hand and use the exact same finishing schedule on that panel as you finish the guitar. This will give you something you can destroy in order to determine MANY aspects of your finishing schedule. In this case it would have been nice to be able to cut the panel, polish the edge, and under a magnifier, take a close look at how thick the finish built. If you have a set of calipers you can measure thicknesses of tape and stack them on that polished edge to use as a visual thickness gauge.

I used rattle cans to finish my first electric and two cans built up a thick finish....with six coats. It's a little strange to read that you're somewhere near 18 coats and have the impression that it's thin. The companies that make lacquer in rattle cans add reducer and retarder at the requisite ratios to atomize the material properly, given the pressure and orifice of the rattle can. I could be wrong.....but all brands should apply about the same amount of film per coat...given that the pressure and orifice size of those cans doesn't vary....I don't think.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic