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PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:05 pm 
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Walnut
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Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:56 am
Posts: 9
First name: Ryan
Last Name: Schultz
City: Knoxville
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37932
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I know a lot about woodworking, guitar building, fixing, pickups, setup, acoustic or electric, etc. But I’m a complete rookie when it comes to finishing. So I bought a Stewmac ES-335 kit with the aerosol finish kit. I also got their fantastic book on Finishing. It says that aerosols are inexpensive, no setup costs, so easy and the best way for a beginner to get started. But they also talk about explosion proof fans, lights and switches. None of that is cheap. So which is it?!?

I have basement workshop. Besides a mask, do I need ventilation? Do I need an exhaust fan? Explosion proof?

Vevor had these 8” exhaust fans (900 cfm) with flexible duct for $100. I thought about cutting a hole in the side of my house to draw the exhaust out, I don’t have a window. I’ve got spare siding to patch it with.

Thoughts?


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 4:13 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:49 am
Posts: 12971
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
First name: Hesh
Last Name: Breakstone
City: Ann Arbor
State: Michigan
Country: United States
Status: Professional
Welcome Ryan. I finished my first guitar which was also an StewMac kit with their rattle can stuff and that book as well. You can do pretty good finishing with a rattle can but there are some things to know.

First the amount of solids in the lacquer is significantly more or was back in my day. This simply means that on a very minute level the finish is not as clear but it's below the threshold of most people being able to notice it IMO. The cans start to spit when they get down to the last 1/3 so I set them aside to use for other things and used new cans which cost a bit more.

Yes nitrocellulose lacquer is explosive and the white dust that it produces is the same thing that they used to fire Volkswagen sized shells from the battle ship New Jersey... also known as gun cotton.

With this said explosion proof (sealed from sparks) lighting and ventilation is really required.

Now you can spray in make shift spray booths, outside, a garage, etc. as well just avoid any thing that can spark or have a flame.

Guitar building not only has pretty rigid requirements for spraying lacquer you also need to control humidity or you can get trapped moisture under the finish and that produces a cloudy mess of a finish and is called "blushing."

I sprayed my first in a small, extra bathroom with the exhaust fan on over head. It was stupid, I should not have done this and it's not recommended.

So be safe, wear a respirator, avoid any source of a spark and you can do a pretty good job with rattle cans. I have one upstairs that I did with a rattle can 17 years ago and it still looks great.

Good luck to you.

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These users thanked the author Hesh for the post: Pmaj7 (Fri Nov 10, 2023 2:58 am)
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:36 am 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:56 am
Posts: 9
First name: Ryan
Last Name: Schultz
City: Knoxville
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37932
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thanks for info. So what’s a cheap explosion proof fan?

Vevor has a 10” for $177, flexible ducting for another $40. Anything better?



These users thanked the author rpschultz13 for the post: Hesh (Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:06 am)
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:07 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:49 am
Posts: 12971
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
First name: Hesh
Last Name: Breakstone
City: Ann Arbor
State: Michigan
Country: United States
Status: Professional
Sorry I am not up on them these days. Our commercial shop, Ann Arbor Guitars has all explosion proof lighting and fans in our spray booth but that was all put in before our time by Luthier Herb David.

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PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 1:36 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Wed Jan 08, 2020 12:28 pm
Posts: 188
First name: Chuck
Last Name: Skarsaune
City: Butler
State: TN
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Howdy neighbor (Uppermost NE TN here)

I'm wrapping up that same kit for my brother-in-law, with SM's tobacco burst aerosols.

I did my spraying outside on days when the weather allowed.

I mostly managed to keep the bugs out :mrgreen:


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 2:27 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:56 am
Posts: 9
First name: Ryan
Last Name: Schultz
City: Knoxville
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37932
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Skarsaune wrote:
Howdy neighbor (Uppermost NE TN here)

I'm wrapping up that same kit for my brother-in-law, with SM's tobacco burst aerosols.

I did my spraying outside on days when the weather allowed.

I mostly managed to keep the bugs out :mrgreen:

Hey send some pictures! I’m going with a Red Mahogany/Amber sunburst, Tabacco brown on the sides.


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PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2021 12:32 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Wed Jan 08, 2020 12:28 pm
Posts: 188
First name: Chuck
Last Name: Skarsaune
City: Butler
State: TN
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Attachment:
990A7C2A-ECF8-4AC9-B0AC-9CC9030E490F.jpeg



One from last night


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These users thanked the author Skarsaune for the post (total 2): Pmaj7 (Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:40 pm) • Hesh (Fri Oct 15, 2021 1:24 pm)
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 9:44 am 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Fri May 18, 2012 8:35 pm
Posts: 2658
Location: Austin, Texas
First name: Dan
Last Name: Smith
City: Round Rock
State: TX
Zip/Postal Code: 78681
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I spray lacquer outside. The outer surface dries very quickly, I’ve never had a problem with dust or bugs getting on it. The fumes are nasty for an hour or so. I do have to wait for good weather.

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wah
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These users thanked the author dzsmith for the post: Pmaj7 (Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:40 pm)
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 1:25 pm 
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Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:49 am
Posts: 12971
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
First name: Hesh
Last Name: Breakstone
City: Ann Arbor
State: Michigan
Country: United States
Status: Professional
Skarsaune wrote:
Attachment:
990A7C2A-ECF8-4AC9-B0AC-9CC9030E490F.jpeg



One from last night


Nice guitar and burst Ryan, good going!

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 1:32 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:56 am
Posts: 9
First name: Ryan
Last Name: Schultz
City: Knoxville
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37932
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Hesh wrote:
Skarsaune wrote:
Attachment:
990A7C2A-ECF8-4AC9-B0AC-9CC9030E490F.jpeg


Nice guitar and burst Ryan, good going!


While I hope mine turns out that nice, that was from Skarsaune... not ME!



These users thanked the author rpschultz13 for the post (total 2): Hesh (Mon Oct 30, 2023 9:22 pm) • Skarsaune (Fri Oct 15, 2021 3:07 pm)
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2023 2:33 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 5:55 am
Posts: 1392
Location: United States
First name: James
Last Name: Bolan
City: Nashville
State: Tennessee
Country: USA
Did you sand the top across the body or tail to neck.

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