Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi everyone, I normally spray my necks off the body with satin nitro finish spray cans. That is no problem. On this occasion I would like to do the same, but have gloss on the front of the headstock. I wondered how you would go about this, without masking thus creating ridges where the satin and gloss meet. I hope this makes sense!
I normally use a lazy susan to spray my necks. I spray the headstock face first, then place the neck face down on the lazy susan and spray and rotate the remainder. I'm thinking if I use a gloss spray can on the face, place the neck face down again, then switch to the satin spraycan to spray the remainder. I could repeat the process several times until the required number of coats is achieved.
Your thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, Mike.

Spray the front of your headstock, let it dry well.

Mask it off but let the tape overhang the edge by about 1/4"
Roll the edge up so you have full access to the side of the headstock. Make sure you don't crease the tape
on the edge. That will give you a soft edge between the matt and the gloss.

Spray your clear and then remove the tape and let it cure. If there are any minor rough spots just use
a little rubbing compound and lightly buff the very edge.

Practice first!!!!!


Cheers,
Bob

If you mask, don’t use 3M blue tape (the adhesive reacts with nitro).

Thanks Bob, are you saying spray the headstock with the required number of coats, and then mask off etc. or mask off after each coat? thanks Mike.

Mike,
Just spray the headstock face with the required number of coats of gloss clear. You may want to mask the sides of your headstock so they don't get gloss overspray on them. (I would do that)

After the Gloss coat has cured (I would give it a week) then apply the tape on the face of the headstock and do the 1/4" overhang thing. Spray the rest of your neck in the Matt clear.

Other than that the only thing you need to do would be clean up the fuzzy edge with a bit of rubbing compound making sure to just hit the very edge and not on your matt finish since then it will be glossy.

Again, Practice doing it with the 1/4" ovehang to get the feel of how light or heavy the spray comes out of the can. But do not try your first try on the guitar...


You wil be fine

Cheers,
Bob

Many thanks Bob, I'll get some practice in. Cheers Mike.