Official Luthiers Forum!

I was concerned about McFaddens going under because I use a their UV cure finish. I talked to Gordon Knight at UV III to see if he knew any other good prospects, and he gave me the contact for these guys:

Gordon Jones
Cardinal UV
1329 Potrero Ave.
So. El Monte, CA
91733

626-444-9274

cell 805-390-1866

Rickenbacker is using this now and they say they like it better than the McF stuff. Hope that helps someone else using UV.

Chemcraft also makes a UV product, and I have some, but it was such a hassle getting it that I can't recommend it. I haven't tried it yet as it's a water-based UV and looks like milk. They sell a pore filler that is brown, and they claim is UV cureable, which makes no sense to me. Anyway, If you are using UV and in a bind, try one of these guys out.

Rob

_________________
Searching for toasted wheat under-pinnings

Rob,

Don't stop by the forum so often!!

Good to see here man and it sounds like things are still going well for you.

Keep it up!
Shane

_________________
Canada

Haha, thanks Shane. Nice to run into you

_________________
Searching for toasted wheat under-pinnings

Hmm,
I have some wheat underpinnings, but you'd have to toast them yourself. I hear tell it's quite dangerous.

Are you sure this was posted to the right thread? I may have missed something......

_________________
Searching for toasted wheat under-pinnings

Never mind I just noticed my ironic tag line that I set up 100 years ago... That joke must be so old right now it competes with "Knock-knock"...

_________________
Searching for toasted wheat under-pinnings

Back to McFadden. Going under?

Mike

Lawrence McFadden products aren't going anywhere in the near future so those of you who are using them
have no need to worry about searching out new finish materials or throwing yourself into the frustrating prospect
of getting familiar with and comfortable with a new finish for you guitars.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

What Kevin said!! Seriously folks, By weeks end (or sooner) things should be back up to speed at McFadden's.

_________________
jw ( o)===:::

I had no idea there was an issue until I read this thread. And I certainly was not trying to expand a rumor... just questioning what was mentioned by the OP.

Mike

Mcfaddens probably made enough money to stay in business by everyone stocking up, when they heard they were closing

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I always shoot down to Philly to pick up my finish supplies from McFadden and have
enjoyed getting to know the folks there over the years. It's still a relatively small operation
and is run the old fashioned way like a family run business. Very casual and friendly.

I'm suer all will be OK with things there in a little while.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

I hope you do not mind me turning this discussion just a little bit in another direction. Assuming a UV finish is available (UV cure), about how much wattage is needed to do the cure for a guitar?

Mike

It's not just a matter of broad-UV-spectrum wattage, it's wattage at a specific wavelength. If you used anything but the specific wavelength bulbs, you'd need so much juice that the heat would light the guitar on fire. When I looked into it, the cost of making a curing light wasn't a whole lot below the cost of buying one.

_________________
Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

UV III systems is familar with Mcfaddens UV cured products and can advise you on the correct light for your application.
http://www.uv3.com/

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

It's more about the bandwidth or wavelength of the UV light that the finish is exposed than it
is the wattage. The surface temp of the handheld light that I use to cure my finish is almost 1100
degrees Fahrenheit. It could easily light a guitar on fire if it was held still and close enough.

There is a learning curve to developing your technique for curing. You've got to be sure to keep
the light moving and maintaining a consistent distance between the light and the finish until you
achieve a full cure. 20 seconds of exposure to the proper wavelength of UV light causes a full cure
equal to 45 or more days of cure time with lacquer.....and there's absolutely no continued shrinkage
as time passes. The finish never turns yellow, checks or shows the aging effects typical of most other
finishes.

It's probably the most durable finish on the market today and is great to work with, although,
tough to sand and buff compared to others.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Kevin,

Is there a place I can go to learn more about this process? Spraying, coats, surface prep, etc?

Mike

In regards to my original post, I just got an email from Gordon Knight at UV III stating "Lawrence McFadden is back in business with a long-term solution and will be up and running again this week." His info was coming direct from the supplier.

Rob

_________________
Searching for toasted wheat under-pinnings

I don't have any experience with UV cured finishes, but Lawrence-Mcfadden has some good information in the PDF's linked at the bottom of this page.
[url][http://www.lawrence-mcfadden.com/uvseal.php/url]

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I have it on good authority from a friend at Taylor, that McFaddens is back open on their own accord and without outside intervention. They are still Taylor's supplier for UV.

Excellent news. I'd spoken with two people in the McFadden shop who said all would be fine and
it appears that they knew what was coming.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars