Finishing my mandolins

[journeyman Mick]

There used to be a bloke on the Gold Coast that used a spray outfit
to apply SunScreen to semi naked bodies...

Of course there are some finishes that should be applied by hand and then rubbed back.

Mick

[JupiterCreek]

Thanks for the info.

So those $99 GMC compressors are worth buying? I'd read some less than flattering reviews on cheap compressors on a few forums, the but they look like value for money, and I'm not exactly spraying houses or shipping comtainers!

Are they easy enough to use? I guess I could always learn by spraying instant tan onto my long suffering fiance. She'll go from looking like Courtney Love to looking like Marcia Hines in a weekend!

A compressor, a touch-up gun... what else is needed? Water trap, anything else? Once again all suggestions gratefully accepted.

[kiwigeo]

I guess I could always learn by spraying instant tan onto my long suffering fiance. She'll go from looking like Courtney Love to looking like Marcia Hines in a weekend!

Just be sure to put the pics up on your website

[MICKYG]

Rob

The nitrocellulose lacquer for guitars is available from PPG which is a brand of products used in the automotive industry. Contact your local panelbeater spraypainter and I am sure you will be able to obtain these products. If you start to spray your wares (only way to go) you need a small touch up gun,
filters for the inlet tube, or a good airbrush system, a small compressor, water filter, pressure regulator. The lacquer and dyes are usually sprayed at low pressure ie 20 to 30 psi. Airbush is almost mandatory for doing sunburst on anything.

A box style booth with a fireproof fan system fitted into the booth (can be rear or bottom mounted) to take away overspray in a gentle fashion is a good few hours spent, and a good quality mask for yourself.

You can use alcohol based dyes, or you can use printers inks to make up a wood dyes, inks soluble with alcohol or thinners require experimenting with to see if they are going to bleed or leech into areas where they are not wanted. Feast Watson make a range of alcohol soluble dyes. You can get quite a few water based dyes which are less prone to change in colour over a period of time. Some of the results from alcohol dyes over a period of time are incredible.

There are two videos available from Stewmacs in the states on finishing Guitars and Mandolins. Dan Erlywhine covers the subject very well and have put into practice what he has covered with good results. You can email me if you need more help of some nature.

Kind Regards
Mike