Veneer thickness, what's best?

[espnut2]

I have added a flame veneer to a guitar top that keeps trying to lift or bubble after I add my nitrocellulose lacquer from StewMac. It may be too thin. It is 1/42" thick (or thin). Can someone tell me what the best thickness is to top a guitar body. Also, what is the best way to get that deep finish. I can't seem to do it with piles of nitrocellulose. Thanks, Scott

[guitar_ed]

Hi Scott,

I don't have a ton of experience with veneers, but you might check out these guys here: Flamingo Veneer. The thickness you are describing sounds right, but again, check with Flamingo.

As for depth, some kind of tint should help. Clear nitro won't normally do the trick. You can see what I have done with quilted maple on my website.

Good luck, and keep at it.

Guitar Ed

[Brian]

Sounds like some moisture has gotten under the veneer from the stain and seperated it from the body. As long as there is enough glue still under there you can get the bubbles and popups to dissapear by applying a heat source such as an iron to tack it down. I use to have to do this sometimes, but you really have to be careful. I used a piece of aluminimun foil to protect the body while doing this.

[LGM Guitars]

Unfortunately, it sounds to me like your laquer has soaked through and reacted badly with the glue you used for your veneer. What type of glue did you use? If it's an epoxy, you might be screwed if the laquer attacked it. Try the heat and press method first, you might be successful with that. I hope you didn't try contact cement, I made that mistake once, there is no repair for that other than removing it all and starting over.