sveb

There's nothing wrong with acrylic lacquer per se; it shoots easily, is very forgiving, covers well and won't yellow. It skins over very quickly, but the cure time is dependant upon several variables: how may coats, how much time between coats, temperature and humidity at time of spraying and while drying. The upside of acrylics is that you can lay on an insane amount of paint before you get runs, and its very hard to make it blush or "pinhole". The downside is the same as nitro; you have to have a huge amount of patience while the stuff cures to the point of practical hardness, and it will suffer the same durability and longevity shortcomings of nitro. I just shot the last coats of acrylic clear on a bass body tonight, I'm probably looking at assembling the guitar late this summer or early this fall. Next time I refinish a guitar, I'm going over to my buddy's body shop and shooting catalyzed poly. It's easier, faster, and is way more durable. Good luck.

>>> It actually looks more like the skin of an uncooked chicken... >>>>>>>>> I sanded it out with 1000, and now a few days later, it came back.....I might me able to sand it out one more time. Hopefully, whatever's trying to force it's way out will eventually stop once the lacquer cures. sveb

I finished what will be my one and only experiment with lacquer. I always thought I was a pretty good painter having shot trucks with Imron, and having a ton of experience around the body shop. I'll never mess with lacquer again. It's too messy, fussy, doesn't like changes in heat or humidity, and takes WAY TOO LONG TO DRY. It doesn't age well, yellows, and isn't durable over the long run. Right now I've got a bass body drying on the bench that I problably won't be able to assemble for 2-3 months. I hate to wait! Next time it's over to my buddy's body shop for a state of the art polyurethane base coat/clear coat job. I can see the point for those who need lacquer for vintage restorations, and those who still cling to the romance of old school lacquer, but for the guitars I like to mess around with, there are no advantages to lacquer whatsoever. I guess I always have to learn the hard way....

>>> It actually looks more like the skin of an uncooked chicken...

I finished laying 3 rattle cans of white acrylic lacquer over the period of a several days, and then shot 2 cans of clear. It seems like it's drying out with no problems other than I can see what looks like a rash, or "goosebumps" in a couple areas. Probably air bubbles or gas-off deep in the color coats. Hopefully i can sand them out. I'm gonna let this thing dry at least 2 months. Think i'll be able to get rid of the goosebumps if I let it dry out really well? I used Home Depot's Rustoleum lacquer, which was probably not the best choice, but it seemed to be pretty forgiving and easy to shoot. Thanks..