Neck Finshing advice sought

[CrackedPepper]

I've been waiting months for my custom Soulmate Guitar neck to be completed and I am told it will ship on Monday.  It's to be mated with my new VIP Showcase body.  I'll have it Wednesday and I will be strongly compelled to install it right away.

Here's the thing:  it's a maple/wenge laminate neck with an ebony fretboard.  The neck ships with just a lacquer sealer on it.

I'm looking for advice here:  can I just use it with the sealer?  How will that hold up?

 

[dmraco]

I would think so. 

What does the manufacturer say??

 

[jackthehack]

Are you sure the sealer is lacquer, don't see any reference on their website? You might be best served calling/emailing SoulMate and directly asking them. Based on the examples of maple/wenge laminate necks shown on the website, I'd definitely put a hard finish on it to protect my investment.

 

[CrackedPepper]

He says "I’ve put lacquer sealer on it which is good for just about everything except autobody clear coats."

I'm not entirely sure what the autobody reference means.  Given that it is a lacquer sealer, what are my options for a top coat?  Obviously, lacquer is one... I'm looking for ease of application and whatever will allow me to put the neck into service as soon as possible without ruining whatever finish I use (i.e. by rubber on a guitar stand.)

 

[koshersteel]

the autobody reference is because that's what a lot of people use on production guitars because it's some of the hardest stuff out there. As far as your neck, there are so many laquers that you are going to have to talk to the manufacturer and find out which procut they are using or have them recommend a compatiable product to go over it.

 

[CrackedPepper]

Doug at Soulmate told me that Deft will work just fine.  How many days does Deft take to "cure" before I can play the neck?

 

[dmraco]

Doug at Soulmate told me that Deft will work just fine.  How many days does Deft take to "cure" before I can play the neck?

a lot.  Depends on how many coats.

When I use deft, I spray a coat or two a day (depending on humidity) of THIN coats.  I then let it sit for a good month before polishing.

 

[CrackedPepper]

Thanks dmraco - I was thinking 30-60 days.  How many coats did you lay down?

 

[jackthehack]

Thanks dmraco - I was thinking 30-60 days.  How many coats did you lay down?

No one can tell in you reality, as there are so many variables, i.e., how thick are the coats you lay down/what is the temperature and the humidity/etc. This is a real bad time of year to be spraying lacquer in Pittsburgh... If you're going to spray Deft from cans and have some place like a warm DRY basement to let it cure, you could probably get away with a thin coat a week and be done with 8 coats in 60 days. It really needs to be at a minimum 70-75 degrees to shoot lacquer and get it to cure in the time frames I describe. If it's humid or much cooler than that you might think you're doing okay and wind up with a big gummy mess when you try to wet sand/polish it later. Trust me, I live in a similar climate and have been through it before.

 

[dmraco]

Thanks dmraco - I was thinking 30-60 days.  How many coats did you lay down?

No one can tell in you reality, as there are so many variables, i.e., how thick are the coats you lay down/what is the temperature and the humidity/etc. This is a real bad time of year to be spraying lacquer in Pittsburgh... If you're going to spray Deft from cans and have some place like a warm DRY basement to let it cure, you could probably get away with a thin coat a week and be done with 8 coats in 60 days. It really needs to be at a minimum 70-75 degrees to shoot lacquer and get it to cure in the time frames I describe. If it's humid or much cooler than that you might think you're doing okay and wind up with a big gummy mess when you try to wet sand/polish it later. Trust me, I live in a similar climate and have been through it before.

Jack is correct...if you are in PGH, you may want to slow down the pace a bit.  Everytime I have done nitro it has been in a climate controlled environment and I can get away with a coat a day.  However doing it like that I have a longer final cure time. 

Jack is a patient man and the coat a week is a good method too.  I have never had gummy issues either way.  If you do spray in a basement, PLEASE MAKE SURE IT IS VENTED!  AND WEAR A MASK.  Nitro is nasty and you do not need to breath that crap in.  Doing thin coat on a neck...you may be able to hold your breath!!! :laughing3: :laughing7:

I usually lay down 12-15 coats.

Where in PGH are you located...I grew up in PGH and get back there often.  Steelers have me a little depressed at this point in the season!!!

 

[-CB-]

I've done, lets see.... a Gibson Les Paul top, one Gibby SG Classic, one Gibby SG Special, one Gibby BFG, the Blue Flame Tele, my Tele Thinline, and a Toiletcaster all in Deft. 

The key to a Deft finish is THIN coat.  "Get it wet, let it set".  You want to get it just wet enough to let the coat you're applying melt into whats already there on the finish.  If you go thick and wet, it takes forever and a day to gas-off.

 

[Keyser Soze]

All great advice so far.  Two more thoughts about spraying rattle can lacquer in Pittsburgh in the winter.

1.  Warm the cans prior to spraying.  Nothing hot, just warmer than room temperature.  The pressure release caused by spraying tends to cool the aerosol.  When the temp of the aerosol drops below the ambient air temp you increase the chance of condensation and thus blushing.  This is best avoided, especially when the drying temp is low.

2.  You cannot spray in your basement if there is a furnace or gas hot water heater present.  Well, you can, but your homeowners policy might not cover the damage from the explosion.

 

[dmraco]

All great advice so far.  Two more thoughts about spraying rattle can lacquer in Pittsburgh in the winter.

2.  You cannot spray in your basement if there is a furnace or gas hot water heater present.  Well, you can, but your homeowners policy might not cover the damage from the explosion.

good point 

 

[CrackedPepper]

OK - you guys have convinced me that I need to exhibit Jack-like patience and I am trying to find a creative solution for my environmental conditions.  So how about this:

I have access to a room were I can spray.  It runs about 65 degrees and 35-40% relative humidity.

I also have another room where I can hang to dry.  It is climate controlled and is a steady 75 degrees and 35-40% relative humidity.

Also, I have access to a UV heat lamp.  I read another post where UV helps. 

If I spray in the cooler room, wait 30 minutes and move the neck to the warmer room and focus the lamp on it, will that work in this Pittsburgh winter?

 

[dmraco]

I think you should be fine.  Not sure of the benefit or harm the lamp may provide.

If you keep the cans at room temp and only have the neck out there in ther 65 for the short time to spray...you should be good.  I do not even know if you need to wait the 30 minutes...put in in the heat ASAP.

The nitro will "feel" dry only after a few minutes.  Make sure not to touch.  I alway use the heel of the neck as a test point since it will be covered during the build.

Honestly you can drive yourself nuts with this stuff.  Take your time and it will be ok.

 

[CrackedPepper]

Where in PGH are you located...I grew up in PGH and get back there often.  Steelers have me a little depressed at this point in the season!!!

I'm in the South Hills - Mt Lebo.

Thanks for all your advice!

 

[CrackedPepper]

OK - you guys have convinced me that I need to exhibit Jack-like patience and I am trying to find a creative solution for my environmental conditions.  So how about this:

I have access to a room were I can spray.  It runs about 65 degrees and 35-40% relative humidity.

I also have another room where I can hang to dry.  It is climate controlled and is a steady 75 degrees and 35-40% relative humidity.

Also, I have access to a UV heat lamp.  I read another post where UV helps. 

If I spray in the cooler room, wait 30 minutes and move the neck to the warmer room and focus the lamp on it, will that work in this Pittsburgh winter?

Last question:  the neck builder said it would be ok to apply urethane.  Will urethane be a better choice than lacquer if I consider, first and foremost, the tempuratures I mentioned earlier here in Pittsburgh?  I'm a little gun shy about the lacquer given the weather and the price I paid for this neck.

 

[dmraco]

OK - you guys have convinced me that I need to exhibit Jack-like patience and I am trying to find a creative solution for my environmental conditions.  So how about this:

I have access to a room were I can spray.  It runs about 65 degrees and 35-40% relative humidity.

I also have another room where I can hang to dry.  It is climate controlled and is a steady 75 degrees and 35-40% relative humidity.

Also, I have access to a UV heat lamp.  I read another post where UV helps. 

If I spray in the cooler room, wait 30 minutes and move the neck to the warmer room and focus the lamp on it, will that work in this Pittsburgh winter?

Last question:  the neck builder said it would be ok to apply urethane.  Will urethane be a better choice than lacquer if I consider, first and foremost, the tempuratures I mentioned earlier here in Pittsburgh?  I'm a little gun shy about the lacquer given the weather and the price I paid for this neck.

both have issues with temp.  Nitro is easy unless you really spray it thick.  Go withthe DEFT>.  I

I grew up in the south hills.  Chartiers valley graduate...1988...damn I am old...

 

[CrackedPepper]

Deft it is.  I'm tired of thinking about this.

I like CV - nice school. My kids go to Seton LaSalle and they play their football games there.  

 

[dmraco]

Deft it is.  I'm tired of thinking about this.

I like CV - nice school. My kids go to Seton LaSalle and they play their football games there. 

good catholic school kids...I went to Our Lady of Grace K-8.  Did you grow up in the burg?