Interesting about difference between nitro and poly finishes

[BigSteve22]

You're right, your minor transgression was not a sin...

However, I'm sure I would be considered a criminal in Sweden for modifying a '65 Hagstrom H2! In my defense, I started the project in 1980, when I was a mere lad of 26. It sat in a case, disassembled and partially re-routed, until 2013, when I finally had the wherewithal to rescue it from obscurity. My Swedish rabbi, Janne from Hagstrom-Vintage-Guitars in Stockholm, gave me some begrudging absolution, but I'm pretty certain I'd be burned at the stake as a heretic, if I actually showed up at his shop.  :icon_jokercolor:

 

[Logrinn]

I’m sure your sins will be forgiven. We’re not that religious up here. Well, not that type of religious anyway.
See you in Valhalla!
Moahaha

 

[ByteFrenzy]

Poly can be Polyurethane or Polyester, both of which are used as guitar finishes and are completely different beasts. Not sure how you could lump the two of them together versus Nitro without introducing the subjective factor.
It is kinda interesting though to speculate that if Leo had not elected to go for Nitro way back when, the entire relic thing would be completely non-existent.

 

[Fender.Fan]

I always thought I would hate nitro, until I had a guitar painted in it. Now I prefer it! I’m in the process of having a couple of my guitars refinished in nitro, but also respect everyone’s opinions and preferences. If you prefer Poly, no shame!!

Why doesn’t Warmoth offer Nitro?

 

[Seamas]

Why doesn’t Warmoth offer Nitro?

I believe it is because nitro is difficult to use and be environmentally friendly at the same time.

 

[jond4]

You're right, your minor transgression was not a sin...

However, I'm sure I would be considered a criminal in Sweden for modifying a '65 Hagstrom H2! In my defense, I started the project in 1980, when I was a mere lad of 26. It sat in a case, disassembled and partially re-routed, until 2013, when I finally had the wherewithal to rescue it from obscurity. My Swedish rabbi, Janne from Hagstrom-Vintage-Guitars in Stockholm, gave me some begrudging absolution, but I'm pretty certain I'd be burned at the stake as a heretic, if I actually showed up at his shop.  :icon_jokercolor:

I think that looks fantastic!

 

[bagman67]

Why doesn’t Warmoth offer Nitro?

I believe it is because nitro is difficult to use and be environmentally friendly at the same time.

The poly finishes Warmoth uses also cure very rapidly, as opposed to nitrocellulose lacquer, which needs a lot longer to cure and become hard enough to wet sand.  It's just much more labor and time intensive to shoot nitro.

 

[mayfly]

You're right, your minor transgression was not a sin...

However, I'm sure I would be considered a criminal in Sweden for modifying a '65 Hagstrom H2! In my defense, I started the project in 1980, when I was a mere lad of 26. It sat in a case, disassembled and partially re-routed, until 2013, when I finally had the wherewithal to rescue it from obscurity. My Swedish rabbi, Janne from Hagstrom-Vintage-Guitars in Stockholm, gave me some begrudging absolution, but I'm pretty certain I'd be burned at the stake as a heretic, if I actually showed up at his shop.  :icon_jokercolor:

I think that looks fantastic!

Yup!  I think that looks pretty killer

 

[Cagey]

Nitro fnishes are labor intensive, so nobody offers it who doesn't have to.

Yoxicity has little to do with it. Everything about nitro finishes is organic. Poly is much more toxic than nitro or it's associated chemistry.

Nitro's vehicle (acetone) is certainly toxic, but it's also natural/organic. In fact, human bodies manufacture it. But, "poison" is often more a matter of quantity than anything else. For example, you would die without any potassium in your body, but too much will kill you just as quickly/easily.

 

[aarontunes]

We don't do nitro because it's slow drying and a pain in the butt.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Poly paint jobs are easier and less expensive to make look very good. Most every company uses it from Ibanez to PRS. Poly finishes are easily identifiable by the thick glossy finish. Polyester as opposed to Polyurethane is resin based and therefore thicker & goopier. Polyurethane is more expensive but it's thinner.

Nitro is nowhere near as durable as Poly. It's easy to see why those old fender finishes rubbed off over the years. That doesn't happen much with today's modern finishes. Nitro is also easier to touch up. Many people think the old guitars were made better than the new guitars. I believe that the new guitars are in almost every case better than the old vintage guitars.

My Warmoth guitars are painted with a reasonably thin polyurethane paint. My next ones will be as well.
The backs of the necks (only the backs) are finished with with Tru-Oil and gunstock wax (not saying that's relevant, just wanted to throw that in there) while those with maple fretboards have a polyurethane clear (Strat is satin, Tele will be gloss) fretboard and headstock face. These guitars look,  feel,  and sound terrific.

 

[Seamas]

I believe that the new guitars are in almost every case better than the old vintage guitars.

I think that is true especially in regard to inexpensive and medium range guitars. Old cheap guitars were  awful. Now a guitar under $200 is perfectly playable and halfway decent sounding.

Good acoustic guitars can be a completely different deal, mostly because raw materials not being available any more.