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A three hour, two DVD set made for first time guitar finishers using water-based nitrocellulose lacquer.

This DVD set will show you how it is possible to achieve a great finish in your home workshop. Basic finishing skills and knowledge are required. Easy to use, much safer than solvent based nitrocellulose lacquer, water-based lacquer cleans up with soap and water. The DVD set covers application with a brush, foam roller and spray-gun. Instructor Jamie Boss covers everything needed to finish your first guitar with great results. Filmed at my guitar building school in Milford, Connecticut, the entire process is broken down to each individual finishing step with close-ups and instructional graphics. Water-based nitrocellulose lacquer dries quickly, has practically no smell what-so-ever, is non-explosive and provides a deep finished shine after final buffing. This finish can be easily applied in the home workshop with a minimum of problems. 

Take a look at my hand-crafted guitars I have listed in my E-Bay store. All of the information in this DVD has been applied to these guitars!

The information covered in the DVD includes:

Introduction

1. Describe the process of finishing a guitar…use a new guitar in example

2. Emphasize that it will take at least two weeks to do it right.

3. Show example of finished guitar

Description of water-based lacquer

1. Types

2. Properties

3. Clean-up

4. Fumes

5. Application methods

The application process we will be using

1. An inexpensive spray-gun

2. Small Sears single-stage, 1 H.P. compressor

3. Spraying pressure set at 40 P.S.I.

4. Large industrial fan blowing overspray outside

5. Good spray mask

6. Good lighting

7. Applying finish with a brush

8. Applying finish with a small foam roller

Preparing the guitar for finishing

1. Sanding in direction of grain up to 320 grit

2. Using alcohol on rag to clean out dust from pores and highlight problems

3. Using alcohol to check for sand marks and glue stains

4. Inspect for gaps in binding, purfling, fret-board and neck joint

5. Filling gaps and holes

6. Checking sides for flatness using scraper

7. Rounding the edges

8. Locating the bridge position

9. Marking and masking the bridge gluing area

10. Masking the fret-board

11. Masking the sound hole

12. Last check with alcohol

Decision to stain

1. Now is the time…..

2. Water-based stains available

3. The downside of staining

The wash-coat

1. Purpose of wash-coat

2. What can be used as wash-coat

3. We will use a thinned mixture of shellac

4. The shellac will seal the pores and give a nice color to the wood

5. Mixing shellac flakes with alcohol

6. Applying the shellac with a rag ball

7. Lightly sand with 800 grit after drying

Applying the grain filler

1. The purpose of grain filling

2. The types of grain fillers

3. Describe the Colortone filler application

4. Describe the McFadden filler application

5. Describe the Z-Poxy filler application

6. Demonstrate colortone filler sanding

7. Flat sanding applied filler after drying

Applying the sanding sealer layers

1. Application method (brush, roller or spray-gun)

2. Purpose of sanding sealer

3. Sealer does not “burn-in”

4. It requires sanding with 320 grit if coats are over 48 hours apart

5. 65-75% of the final finish thickness should be the sanding sealer (6-8 coats)

Spraying tips

1. Keep gun level when moving

2. Adjust spray on scrap wood or old guitar

3. Beginners should use a spray pressure of 35-40 P.S.I.

4. Never let the finish remain in gun more than 5 hours max

5. Overlap your spraying strokes

6. Watch for sags and runs. Let dry before sanding off

7. Use mask and ventilation fan

Applying the gloss coat

1. Make sure all areas are lightly sanded with 800 grit before spraying

2. Apply 4 gloss coats over 2 days

3. Lightly sand with 800 grit between coats

4. Let dry for a minimum of 150 hours before buffing out

Buffing out

1. Wet-sand with 1200 grit sandpaper watching for sand-thrus.

2. Use 6000 grit and 8000 grit Micro-mesh pads with water to polish to a shine

3. Use polish as final buffing agent.

Menu buttons

DVD #1

1. Introduction

2. Preparation

3. Wash-coat

4. Filling the grain

DVD #2

1. Application

2. Final polishing

3. Helpful hints

The two DVDs cover the entire process of finishing a guitar with water-based lacquer and are a great reference for experienced luthiers, as well as step-by-step instructions for the first time builder. Each section has a menu button and is divided into chapters for easy access to critical areas.

Dealer inquiries invited

International buyers should contact us for a shipping quote before bidding. This item is shipped USPS within the U.S. and internationally. We take Mastercard, Visa and American Express. All custom forms for overseas shipments will have the correct and true invoice amount for the purchase! If you have any questions, please call me at 203-877-9044 or e-mail me.

Thank you for your interest in my store!