Official Luthiers Forum! :: View topic - Thinking polyurethane for guitar #2

I've sprayed 5 or 6 instruments with nitro and one with acrylic(EM6000). Love the nitro for looks but not so much for the nasty smell while curing in my house. The EM6000 solved that but it doesn't compare with nitro for appearance, maybe I haven't tried hard enough.

I haven't tried poly on a guitar yet but I love the look and robustness of it. I'm not concerned with repairability, someone else's problem after I'm dead. I am concerned with buffing it. I've never done that with poly, this will be my first instrument with it and it needs to be flawless and thin. To the best of my ability. Does anyone here use poly on acoustics that might give me some tips?

Author:	banjopicks [ Wed Jul 02, 2025 11:55 am ]
Post subject:	Thinking polyurethane for guitar #2
I've sprayed 5 or 6 instruments with nitro and one with acrylic(EM6000). Love the nitro for looks but not so much for the nasty smell while curing in my house. The EM6000 solved that but it doesn't compare with nitro for appearance, maybe I haven't tried hard enough. I haven't tried poly on a guitar yet but I love the look and robustness of it. I'm not concerned with repairability, someone else's problem after I'm dead. I am concerned with buffing it. I've never done that with poly, this will be my first instrument with it and it needs to be flawless and thin. To the best of my ability. Does anyone here use poly on acoustics that might give me some tips?

Author:	Marcus [ Wed Jul 02, 2025 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Thinking polyurethane for guitar #2
I've used the Ilva poly from stew mac on my last 4 guitars and I really like it. The off-gassing is a million times faster (and better) than nitro. It sprays nicely, but since its a 2-part poly, youll need to clean your gun well after the sessions. It also takes to the buffer really well, it doesn't heat up too fast (like other finishes ive tried).

Author:	phavriluk [ Thu Jul 03, 2025 10:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Thinking polyurethane for guitar #2
banjopicks wrote: I've sprayed 5 or 6 instruments with nitro and one with acrylic(EM6000). Love the nitro for looks but not so much for the nasty smell while curing in my house. The EM6000 solved that but it doesn't compare with nitro for appearance, maybe I haven't tried hard enough. I haven't tried poly on a guitar yet but I love the look and robustness of it. I'm not concerned with repairability, someone else's problem after I'm dead. I am concerned with buffing it. I've never done that with poly, this will be my first instrument with it and it needs to be flawless and thin. To the best of my ability. Does anyone here use poly on acoustics that might give me some tips? Practice on something other than that must-be-right instrument until you're happy with your process.

Author:	doncaparker [ Fri Jul 04, 2025 4:05 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Thinking polyurethane for guitar #2
Be aware of the differences between a thermoplastic finish like nitrocellulose lacquer, and a thermoset finish like polyurethane, when it comes to how you polish them each to a shine. Sanding the finish up through the grits will be the same up to a point, but buffing is a bit different regarding how they each react to friction/heat. Jeff Jewitt describes this well in his course on finish sanding and buffing.

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