Qualalacq lacquer

[Lee Gendvilas]

Somehow while at woodcraft I grabbed a quart of Behlen qualalacq satin lacquer by accident. Anyone had any experience/comments about it? It doesn't look to me to be completely nitrocellulose. I'm questioning if it can be used over a nitro finish with good results.

[Robbie Collins]

Question: Is this to be applied over a factory finish or are you completing a spray sequence?

If a factory finish, are you sure it is nitro and not catalyzed lacquer or some other medium?

If nitro, then since Qualalacq has 10-20% acetone it will melt into the previous lacquer. If you're not sure about the existing finish and want to tread carefully you might spray 4 coats of shellac, let it cure for a week, level sand, and apply the Qualalacq.

You could test compatibility by, say, shooting a couple of coats of the previous lacquer on a test board then spraying a coat of Qualalacq.

MSDS: http://homesteadfinishingproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la...

Behlen catalog (see p.5): http://www.hbehlen.com/Behlen_Catalog.pdf

[Lee Gendvilas]

Hello Robbie. Thanks for your reply. I'm still working a Gibson Gospel-mainly a 3 inch top crack. I'm concerned about compatibility with the Qualalacq chemicals and the Gibson lacquer.

[Robbie Collins]

You might check this thread on how to flatten lacquer:

http://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/homebrew-flattening-agent-for...

[Robbie Collins]

Frank wondered, in the above thread, whether the colloidal silica used with System 3 epoxy might work. I ran across the product below looking for a shellac flattening agent. I wonder if it might work with lacquer:

http://homesteadfinishingproducts.com/products-we-offer/finishes/sh...

[Howard Klepper]

What did you think you were grabbing?

Do you want a satin finish?

No commercially made "nitrocellulose" lacquer is completely nitrocellulose.

Qualalac should adhere and melt in just fine to the Gibson's finish.  It is not plasticized for acoustic guitar finishes.