Lacquer paint and polyurethane clear?

[JamesL]

I'm looking to paint my jazzmaster with the reranch lake placid blue and I had planned to use polyurethane to clear coat that.. Is that possible or will I run into problems?

 

[Cagey]

Opinions vary. But, if you're going to have any success at all, the lacquer needs to be very thoroughly cured. You'd probably want to wait at least a month, if not longer. I wouldn't do it, if it was up to me. If you're set up to shoot poly, then just get some poly that's been mixed to Lake Placid Blue in the first place, then put clear over that if you want to.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

In general it is best not to mix.  I am guessing that the Lacquer will shrink a lot more than the Poly.  Even for quite a number of years it will continue to shrink.  The poly is probably not going to like that.  Also, I am unsure of how well the poly will stick to the lacquer.  CB used to always say use a layer, more like three, of shellac (Zinssers Sanding sealer) as an intermediate layer so that there is good adhesion between layers.  Still, this doesn't stop the lacquer from shrinking.  I would stick to "like" finishes to minimize variables.  Sounds like a dapper guitar though, good luck with the finishing.
Patrick

 

[-CB-]

There are some poly's you can use over shallac - not the big box store poly Minwax type or similar.

The poly I'm speaking of is a 2k poly, like that from SprayMax, which is fine over lacquer.

There are all sorts of "poly" finishes.  Some are catalyst, some are air dry, etc.  The consumer grade stuff is not really suited for guitars.