#BEHLEN STRINGED INSTRUMENT LACQUER CRACKED#

Close enough for government work, as they say. Appearance wise it is a match so it really doesn't matter to me that it's not 'the right stuff'. I think that's because my replacement coats are sanded down to be much thinner than the old finish job. Tone wise it sounds better than before, more of a woody sound than previously. Probably has plasticizers that make it easier for an amateur to work with. It is a nitrocellulose type but, now that the job is complete, I have to admit it feels a little different, more plastic like, so it is a different formula for sure. I don't have spray equipment so I went to the handy dandy Home Depot and bought some Minwax Brushing Lacquer. Made a big mess of it, ended up having to strip the back and sides to bare wood. I had never repaired lacquer before so I bought some Seagrave (McFadden formula) and matching thinner. It was McFadden by the way, I know that for a fact.

#BEHLEN STRINGED INSTRUMENT LACQUER CRACKED#

I have a mandolin that took a light blow to it's edge (wood binding) and a big chip came right out and it cracked like glass, about 1 inch from the chip and kept expanding. I take issue with the claim that lacquer for musical instrument use is 'less brittle and more flexible' than that for furniture. Sometimes you just have to live and learn.ĭon't have much experience in this area but let me chine in with what i do know. Here are a couple of pictures showing the problem. I was a bit shocked and noticed that LMII was no longer offering this product, so i guess that I was not alone having this problem. Within a year the surfaces covering the softer woods (sound board) developed spider cracks over the whole surface. It was expensive, but the first few instruments looked great. LMII was selling a new product called 'Hard Shellac' that looked promising. I was looking for a finish that I could apply with a brush and that could be polished out to a nice glossy finish. Sometimes you just have to live and learn. I've had to do that more than a few times. The worst thing that could happen is you'll have to strip the finish back to bare wood and do the finish again. The only way to tell for sure would be to use the product you bought on an instrument and let time tell the answer. It's ready to spray with no thinning required, for faster finish build-up in multiple coats.'

The finish has better resistance to cold-checking and scuffs. 'Stringed Instrument Lacquer produces a hard, durable finish that's less brittle and more flexible than standard furniture lacquer, to accommodate the expansion and contraction of wooden instruments. Some were a little easier to spray, but all worked as advertized. All the major brands (Behlen, McFadden, Cardinal, Seagrave, etc.) and they all have worked fine so far. I've sprayed gallons of instrument grade nitro lacquers. Will the brands not specifically formulated for acoustic instruments work equally well? Maybe not. Fisheye additive – $12.To answer your question 'Are nitrocellulose Lacquers basically the same?' the answer is. – Quart Lacquer Reducer – $ (we will be selling this under the Behlen Brand until supplies run out)

LACQUER FLATTENER – Is used to reduce the sheen of gloss lacquer to semi-gloss, satin or flat. LACQUER FISHEYE FLOWOUT SMOOTHIE – Is used for elimination of craters or fisheyes. LACQUER RETARDER – Used when conditions cause blushing MOHAWK INSTRUMENT THINNER – Used with lacquer to promote flow-out and leveling. #M610-1406/4 – Gloss Classic Instrument Lacquer – 4 packĬLASSIC INSTRUMENT SEALER – Is better where a more demanding finish is required as it has better moisture resistance. #M610-1406 – Gloss Classic Instrument Lacquer – $ per can Product is supplied at ready to spray viscosity but can be thinned with lacquer reducer if necessary. MOHAWK CLASSIC INSTRUMENT LACQUER – (Replaces Behlen Stringed Instrument Lacquer) This premium nitrocellulose lacquer is for finishing acoustic guitars and other stringed instruments. Will polish beautifully to a brilliant gloss or a silky satin. It has a pale color compared to most other amber lacquers and dries very hard.

Mohawk Classic Instrument Finish – replaces Behlen Stringed Instrument Lacquer – a product we used for many years and featured in my video – “Spray Lacquer for Guitars” It is “hands-down”, the most forgiving, easiest finish to spray, flows out beautifully, and rubs out to a beautiful sheen.

Behlen stringed instrument lacquer