The Deft clear laquer that I used on my guitar does not seem to be very hard. I can scratch it pretty easily with my finger nail. Is this normal? Are there other more durable laquer clear coats? I guess it doesn't matter that much since I can buff it out, but I was expecting a little harder finish I guess.
Deft clear question
- Thread starter Danuda
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jackthehack
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How long ago did you finish it? Any nitro lacquer takes a LONG time to completely dry/cure.
There are a number of issues that are "possibles".
Inadequate rattle can agitation. STRONG shaking for a full two minutes... at minimum.
Re-coating too soon - which does not let the undercoats "gas off", and in fact will "resolvent" the undercoats.
Coating thickness is too thick. You can build thickness, but it must allow adequate time for undercoats to gas off the solvents.
Applying too thick, too soon will cause the finish to be soft for quite a while. Quite a while could well be months, or longer. Eventually you'll have a very tough finish if you went thick too fast. Deft is very forgiving, but the additives that make it forgiving (flow out agents, anti fisheye agents, antiblush agents) also make it softer than a commercial grade lacquer would be, based on the same rate of application, resulting in similar finish thicknesses. That is, coat for coat, commercial lacquer goes on thicker and harder, but is less forgiving. Deft is good, you just gotta go slow!
Inadequate rattle can agitation. STRONG shaking for a full two minutes... at minimum.
Re-coating too soon - which does not let the undercoats "gas off", and in fact will "resolvent" the undercoats.
Coating thickness is too thick. You can build thickness, but it must allow adequate time for undercoats to gas off the solvents.
Applying too thick, too soon will cause the finish to be soft for quite a while. Quite a while could well be months, or longer. Eventually you'll have a very tough finish if you went thick too fast. Deft is very forgiving, but the additives that make it forgiving (flow out agents, anti fisheye agents, antiblush agents) also make it softer than a commercial grade lacquer would be, based on the same rate of application, resulting in similar finish thicknesses. That is, coat for coat, commercial lacquer goes on thicker and harder, but is less forgiving. Deft is good, you just gotta go slow!
Cagey
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No, the reranch isn't any harder. Re-read CB's post - he knows what he's talking about. You may have to wait a month or longer, but it'll eventually get as hard as any brand's offering. You can re-coat it if you want to, but trying to do that now will only extend the curing time, and is likely to cause other problems such as cracking/checking.
Cagey
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An added note...
If you order a custom Warmoth neck or body, you're looking at 6 to 8 weeks to delivery, and it's not because it takes that long to make the part. It's the finish that eats up that time, and they don't even use lacquer in most cases. They use a catalyzed polyurethane, and that stuff will cure to the touch in an hour or less. But, it takes a long time for it to get truly hard to where they can polish it up properly and trust it to be handled.
If you order a custom Warmoth neck or body, you're looking at 6 to 8 weeks to delivery, and it's not because it takes that long to make the part. It's the finish that eats up that time, and they don't even use lacquer in most cases. They use a catalyzed polyurethane, and that stuff will cure to the touch in an hour or less. But, it takes a long time for it to get truly hard to where they can polish it up properly and trust it to be handled.
Yeah I mis-read his post. He mentioned that Deft was not as hard as commercial grade and I thought he meant that a different brand may be commercial grade. I will just wait it out and then re-buff the body to a nice shine. On a positive (or negative depending on how you look at it) I notticed I have sloppy strumming technique by looking at where the scratches are. How you get pick marks above the strings is beyond me.
Cagey
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That's why people install "pickguards". They guard the finish against picks. No matter how careful you are, you're going to nail the finish every once in a while. And who wants to be careful? New pickguards are $25. New finishes are $350. Whatever's best for you... <grin>
erogenousjones17
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Sorry for the hijack (and quasi-necropost), but I've go my own Deft clear question: Can anyone tell me where I can get my hands on the damn stuff in Canada (namely Québec)?
erogenousjones17
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No luck at the Wal, nor at Home Depot, Canadian Tire or the other big-box harware stores I've checked. Sometimes I wonder if it's even sold here... :icon_scratch:
