Official Luthiers Forum!

Looks like Stew Mac has abandonded the Target Coatings waterbase laquer and is now carrying The General Finishes waterbase laquer. I noticed that someone commented that the color tone pigment didn't mix well with the Target laquer. I wonder if that's why they abandoned it...

I have had good luck with EM 6000. Now that I have my technique dialed in I'm kinda reluctant to change. (Maybe I just have the spraying technique down.). Has anyone tried the General Finishes waterbase laquer? Is it any good?

_________________
Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

It's quite the hot topic of late. Search "Enduro-Var" on this forum and you'll get a lot of info.

Jeez Steve, I wish I knew you were using EM6000. I just took almost a full gal to the land fill a couple days ago to get rid of it. I stopped using it awhile ago.

_________________
"I've been had again"
Tim Benware
Creedmoor, NC

SM was selling GF(Acrylic) Waterbased Topcoat for finishing.
Just had a look, and (breaking news?) they are now also selling, guess what, GF Enduro-Var (Urethane)
Must have been quite recent, still no suggested schedule for it, only for the Topcoat.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

With the Enduro Var I am finding that temperature and humidity control are very important -- not only for drying but flow out as well. Shame on me but this is something I rather neglected when testing some other WB coatings. I plan to pre-warm the components before spraying.

_________________
Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

I noticed that too, last time it must have been too hot and maybe a bit dry, so it dried quickly, quite a lot of orange peel.
Some recent tests were at 65/68 F and 45-50%, self levelled out much better but still sandable in 2 hrs.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

One of the things I like about EM 6000 is that it is forgiving in regard to temperature and humidity. It is also forgiving in repair and has 100% burn in and levels nicely. I like that latitude. ...no issues with orange peel either. Also, i have had many folks (guitar enthusiasts and high end guitar stores) mistake it for nitro. I prefer waterbased as it is not as toxic. If there is another finish that has these qualities, I would be interested in knowing about other products to choose from, but i really have no complaints with EM6000...

Tim, I would assume if you were throughing it out, it was old. I'd rather have fresh stuff. (Hope you are doing well my friend.)

_________________
Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Steve -- I should point out that this is a matter of awareness not a problem at all, just like using nitro lacquer, hide glue, epoxy or what ever we have to use the correct process to get premium results.

In my opinion the Enduro Var is very promising -- just a guess but I think long term it will become the WB finish of choice, we'll see.

_________________
Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

Steve, I'm a bit confused as to which General finish you are talking about.
The lacquer

Or EnduroVar


There is a definite difference between the two.

Alex

_________________
"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

The bottom picture that says ENDURO-VAR on the tin.
Sorry, I probably confused the issue with my first post, Steve was asking about GF Top Coat.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Colin's right, I was just referring to the GF top coat. That appears to be what Stew Mac replaced the Target Coating with. SM was selling EM 7000. Most folks seem to have liked EM 6000 better...

_________________
Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

This is the one Steve is asking about. It's offered in flat, satin, semi-gloss and gloss. I haven't used it yet as I prefer the amber color of the Enduro Var.

I used a can of the High Performance for a small cabinet job. Worked OK, but it really smelled!

Alex

_________________
"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Alex, it just worked OK? I want something that is forgiving in application, has %100 burn in characteristics, and looks appealing....

_________________
Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

IIRC, I used it for a vanity. Two coats of stain and three coats of finish in one day, with a light sanding between coats 2 and 3, so burn in wasn't an issue. For a clear finish, without amber tint, I prefer the Enduro Clear Poly, but I needed something in a hurry, so I went to Lee Valley for the High Performance instead of delivery from my supplier.

I'd say it sprays as well as any of the other General finishes that I've used, with a Fuji 4 stage turbine, and except for the smell, I'd probably use it again. Having said that, spraying a cabinet is plenty different than spraying a guitar. I'll be using Brite Tone finish on a guitar soon. I saw one of Fred Tellier's guitars with Brite Tone, and it looked great.

Alex

_________________
"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Here is an example of EM6000. Note that the blue color is a reflection of the blue sky...

_________________
Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com