What clear over waterslide decal on Nitro Satin Vintage Tint finish?

[Steve St.Laurent]

I have a maple neck (rosewood fingerboard) on the way with the Vintage Tint Satin finish on it.  I want to put a waterslide decal on the headstock and then clear over it to protect it.  I'd rather avoid using a spray gun for such a small job if I can and I've found Stewmacs Colortone clear satin nitro spray cans and Reranch's Nitro satin clear also in cans.  I've read on here that you don't want to mix manufacturers lacquers but nowhere can I find what Warmoth uses.  It seems like any nitro cellulose lacquer should be compatible but I've been wrong on stuff like that before.  So what do you guys recommend?  Anyone done this on a vintage tint satin finish?  TIA

 

[-CB-]

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=14936.0

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I saw that post CB and your response - but that was an unfinished neck to begin with.  This will have Warmoth's nitro satin vintage tint on it already.

 

[Watershed]

While I don't have one, I hear that Warmoth's satin finish (on necks) is a precatalyzed lacquer.
It has been my experience that plain nitro can have adhesion issues sticking to precatalyzed lacquer.

You may be able to get away with it if you use a bonding/intermediate coat, such as shellac or vinyl sealer.
In your position, I would personally ask Warmoth what they recommend.

James

 

[-CB-]

You'll have to smooth the existing finish over entire headstock with 600 paper.  Apply the decal.  Seal it with two coats of shellac.  Then carefully reapply the finish over the entire headstock.

I've found it best to mask "just below the face" of the headstock when doing this.  You'll end up with a little rim of finish that you can very easily blend into the existing finish if you do it that way.