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meddlingfool
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2016 10:42 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
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First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Nanaimo
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
What final film thickness should a properly applied nitro coat be?

Thanks...
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Jim Watts
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2016 11:34 pm 
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I don't know if it's proper or not but I spray an average of about .0007-.0008/coat. I measure after I've sprayed several coats that day then let it dry for a day or so. I use a micrometer at the sound hole and try to measure it in the same spot each time.

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Joe Beaver
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2016 11:36 pm 
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First name: Joe
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State: California
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Far from an expert, and i hardly know right from wrong, but I usually have 5-6 mills, before sanding

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Jim Watts
PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 12:31 am 
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I misread the initial post, sorry, for final thickness I end up in the same range as Joe about .oo6 prior to final sanding and buffing. I end up at about .004 when all sanded and buffed.

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meddlingfool
PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 3:30 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Nanaimo
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Thank you.

Would love more verification of those numbers, which are in line with what I think I should be able to expect from a professional finisher.
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Woodie G
PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 6:46 am 
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About .004" after sanding and buffing for the top. I used a wet coat mil gauge when I started practicing lacquer finishing to be able to see what a good, wet coat looked like, and to try to gain some consistency on per-coat dry thickness. Some day I know I will get there!

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B. Howard
PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 7:58 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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First name: Brian
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I target my nitro finishes to 5 mils total after buffing. I loose about 2 in level and buff so an overall dry film of 7 mils.

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Mike Franks
PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 8:01 am 
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I use 3M thin blue masking tape to mask the bridge & fretboard extension areas on the top prior to finishing. After leveling the last coat of lacquer, I end up with the tape level with the surface of the top. Subsequent measuring of the lacquered tape after removal will indicate the thickness of the top finish. My nitro finishes measure about .004" -.005" after leveling and buffing.

Mike Franks
http://www.mjfranksguitars.com
http://www.facebook.com/mjfranksguitars
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meddlingfool
PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 12:43 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
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First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Nanaimo
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Thanks folks!
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