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I noticed that Wood Essence in Saskatoon has a new instrument finish here in Canada. It's called Bright Tone and I am wondering if anyone has tested it and what you think. They say it is a high solids high clarity waterbased finish and looks like something I could consider. http://www.woodessence.com/Brite-Tone-I ... 7C117.aspx

Don't know anything about this product, but I would give Jeff a call at Wood Essence, and ask his opinion. I get all of my cabinet stains and finishes from him, and he always has excellent advise for any questions that I have. Shipping costs are very reasonable as well - 2 x 3.78l cans and some sundry items for under $20, usually four business days.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

I have a quart of gloss on the way...
Have known Jeff has been developing this house-branded product for some time, will be interesting to see what it is like.
4-5 coats, no blue haze....hmmm...we shall see!

Although the tech specs have yet to be posted, Jeff recommends this schedule:
2 coats Brite-Tone Sanding sealer, then 24 hour cure
4-5 coats total of Brite-Tone lacquer in 2 sessions over 2 days.
Max recommended 3 coats per day, so 3 then 2...

I'll bite.

Want

Finish

Solution

Lots more info needed IMO. (Clicking specs or MSDS links yields a pic of the can!!!) Is it acrylic? Is Target manufacturing under license? ..someone else?)
Alex FWIW Jeff has a warehouse in Oakville for quick pickup.

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Dave
Milton, ON

Thanks Dave. Jeff told me that I could pick up at the warehouse, but I am usually ordering well in advance, and I my truck would likely burn close to $20 in gas there and back. The General stains that I use are mixed in Sask. by Jeff, so I would be paying for shipping anyways.
It looks like he is moving away from some of the Target products in favour of the General ones, at least for stains.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

It does not appear Jeff has updated his site as yet.
I have received the products, but won't be able to spray for a few weeks yet.
Here is what it says on the cans:

That looks pretty promising. I'm getting tired of nitro stink in my life. Do you think "self crosslinking" would be similar to burn in? What's your guess on how many guitars you would get from what you have there Robbie? What did shipping cost you?

Thanks,
Danny

Hi Danny,

I have not sprayed any of this yet, so hard to say. I get 8 guitars out of a US gal. of EM6000, which is about 120 coats.
If I get 30 coats out of a quart of this stuff, at 5 coats per guitar, then maybe 6?
Sounds like wishful thinking...
Shipping was $18 from Saskatoon to Cochrane, and showed up 2 days after I ordered.

"Self crosslinking" means it polymerizes without catalyst....
Unfortunately - that's kinda the opposite of how a thinner based coating does it....
Shellac and Lacquer don't really crosslink per-se...

Has anyone sprayed this yet, I might be interested as I need a non yellowing finish for a Quilt maple guitar that the customer wants to keep as pale as possible.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

I have my supply, but am still a few weeks out from spraying - will be doing three.
Will let you know.

Rob

Becker Labs--just up the road from me here in Tennessee--is listed as the manufacturer. I would bet that the product is some kind of re-brand of their Crystalac product. There are some data sheets available on the net if you look around.

Dave

I have tried Crystalac clear filler.... HATED IT... applied it as per directions and it ended up with a blue cast to it and in about a month it started peeling off the wood. Threw the Quart I bought in the trash. Fortunately it was on a scrap of Mahogany so no guitars were damaged in the test.

This stuff may be a different critter all together but their clear filler sucks and it isn't clear its BLUE!!!

Bob

I spoke to Jeff today, and he told me that Brite Tone is a re-packaged finish that was previously only available in drums, and sold commercially. Minimum buff time is 100 hours, and that he tried drop filling scratched samples with CA, and rebuffed with no witness lines.
He said that he has had many inquiries, but no direct feedback, as of yet.
I'll be placing another order with him in a few weeks, and I'll get a can of the sealer and finish. I plan on testing it on one of my less desirable tops.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Yeah, but Alex, if you're out that way you can stop in at Exotic Woods! Once your wallet recovers from that hit, you will never even notice the $20 in gas you're out;)

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If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason. - Jack Handey

Hahahahaha .. .. AL and Alex .. yeah, been there done that (exotic trip) .. a few times !!!!!

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Well, I'm going to let my fingers do the walking tomorrow, and call Exotic Woods to see if they have enough roasted maple to do a kitchen. That way my wallet is safe in Whitby!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker