Is finish checking bad?
Finish checking is a blemish that affects the visual appearance only and will affect the value of the guitar. It will not affect characteristics like playability or sound.
What is finish checking?
A crack in a guitar or bass’s finish. Checking can result when the temperature changes. As the temperature increases or decreases, the instrument’s wooden body and neck expand or contract at a different rate than its finish, causing the finish to crack. See also “checking.”
Does nitro finish crack?
Nitrocellulose also yellows with time, especially when exposed to excessive sunlight. Apart from the above, small cracks can appear in a nitro finish after several years too. This occurs when a guitar is regularly exposed to differing temperatures, as changes in climate causes wood to expand and contract.
How do I protect my nitro finish?
A Warning About Nitro Finishes and Guitar Stands The best thing to do if you have a nitro-finished guitar is to only use stands or hangers that specifically state they are safe for nitrocellulose finishes. When in doubt, simply place a cloth between your guitar and the stand or hanger.
Does nitrocellulose lacquer age?
“Over the years, they have ‘fixed’ the inherent problems with nitrocellulose lacquer, where it no longer yellows or cracks with age. As for the thickness, lacquer is forever gassing off, so over time, it gets thinner and thinner. The vintage ones were once much thicker finishes.”
How do I avoid finishing checks?
Try to keep your guitar at room temperature. If you can’t or if it gets left in the trunk of a car for many hours or days, you run the risk of damaging the Gibson through finish checking. 1. Bring the instrument into a warm room.
How do you age a nitro finish?
Use fluorescent lighting to age the nitrocellulose lacquer finish. UVB 313-fluorescent lighting can be used when sunlight is not available. Expose the guitar to the lighting, which quickens aging. Rotate the guitar.
How long does nitrocellulose lacquer take to dry?
3-4 weeks is about as long as I’ve been able to wait. If you can keep it in a warm, dry place, maybe a little less.
Is all lacquer nitrocellulose?
In terms of modern finishing products, finishes based on shellac dissolved in alcohol are often called shellac or lac to distinguish them from synthetic lacquer, often called simply lacquer, which consists of synthetic polymers (such as nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate butyrate (“CAB”), or acrylic resin) dissolved in …
Is it possible to repair a nitrocellulose finish for free?
Some makers even sell “distressed” models and charge extra! You can distress your own instrument for free. I have done many, many finish touchups with CA, but IMHO, lacquer is the preferred method to repair nitro. The only downside is the amount of time required for the lacquer to completely cure.
What’s the difference between Nitro and poly finishes?
Many smaller custom shops in the USA and worldwide still use nitro finishes also. While both poly and nitro can be high gloss, nitro is noticeably just a bit less glossy than poly finishes. Usually your guitar manufacturer’s website will say if your model has a nitrocellulose finish.
Why do some guitar players use nitro finish?
Though often debated, nitro is believed by many people to allow the guitar wood to vibrate better when playing the guitar strings. This finish does not smother and ‘encase’ the wood like a poly finish can – for these reasons it is preferred by many players as a premium finish & those after the best tone.
Do you need razor blade to Polish nitrocellulose finish?
DO NOT forget to leave the nitro long enough to harden before you cut/polish it back. I normally leave them for at least a week. If you leave the laquer only just proud of the finish, you will not need the razor blade, only a tiny spot of 2000 paper and some G3 cutting paste, swirl remover and polish to finish.
