What's the deal with "Nitro finish"

ultraeconomike · June 25th, 2009, 03:53 PM

People seem to mention it a lot on this site. If it's thin and will wear down to the wood easily then that's exactly what I'm looking for Where do you get it and what is the exact product name?

kappa2583 · June 25th, 2009, 04:13 PM

Stewart MacDonald sells it. Check it out here Finishes and solvents at Stewart-MacDonald

Epinez · June 25th, 2009, 04:39 PM

ReRanch Guitar Refinishing

Axis29 · June 25th, 2009, 07:31 PM

Any finish can be put on thin. Factory Nitro tends to be thinner than factory Poly finishes. but even if you finished it yourself in poly, you could spray it on nice and thin, then buff it back to smooth... but it'd still be thin and wear through quickly.

The biggest difference for me is in the feel. Nitro gets a nice velvety soft feel. Poly stays plasticy feeling.

StratmanNick · June 26th, 2009, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ultraeconomike

People seem to mention it a lot on this site. If it's thin and will wear down to the wood easily then that's exactly what I'm looking for Where do you get it and what is the exact product name?

To be honest, a Nitro finish isn't going to "wear down to the wood easily". Think these things are sometimes exaggerated. You'd have to be playing that guitar one hell of a lot to get any real wear.

My AVRI is now 9 years old and is only showing some gentle wear on the back at the tummy cut line and this is showing the original paint colour, as its ageing to a creamy yellow.

Hope this helps

ultraeconomike · June 26th, 2009, 03:49 PM

Thanks from the above comments I surmise it's the number of coats you go for rather than the type of paint, although the characteristics of Nitro are probably more what I want in a paint. That and it just sounds cool like a bad a#@ funny car or something.

Offshore Angler · June 26th, 2009, 05:16 PM

Well, there are lots of variants of "nitro" too. Like now, the "nitro" on Fender's HWY 1's is a Sherwin Williams acrylic laquer product, a far cry from the nitrocellulose laquer of old.

The issue with real nitro is that it is not evironmentally friendly, and in some states (like California) it is almost impossible to use without getting a visit from the Board of Health, the local HAZMAT team, and OSHA. So now they use substitute nitro products.

I imagine it was used originally because it relatively fast drying time in its day.

Cool article about Fender's paint here
http://www.allbusiness.com/manufactur.../575114-1.html

chuckdup · June 26th, 2009, 05:25 PM

sup guys, fender was just being cheap when it went to the "thin nitro finish" in my opinion and when they were cornered on the subject claimed it was "tone" blah blah blah. a load of crap if you aske me. but people bite on the whole tonewood, nitro song and dance so i guess it works for them. fenders run the strings thru a 4 piece bridge 'sustain block, bridge plate, saddle, and saddle adjustment screws, suspended from as many as 6 screws. attached to 3 to 5 springs or sustain dampners as i like to call them attached to a claw secured by 2 more screws. bolt the necks on and hang the pickups from springs secured to a piece of 3ply plastic, sorry got a little carried away there. some really cool guitars though..........chuck