Mohawk Nitrocellulose Lacquer & Thinners

Nitrocellulose lacquer is the highest quality finish for guitars and other stringed instruments such as ukuleles and mandolins.

Nitrocellulose (known as 'Nitro') has been used by most of the worlds leading guitar makers since the beginning of last century due to it's superior look, acoustic properties and durability. Nitro is still used by many of the top manufacturers on their highest grade instruments. Companies that use Nitrocellulose on their top range instruments include Martin, Maton, Gibson, Fender and Collings.

One advantage of a Nitrocellulose finish is that it is thinner than products like Polyurethane and Polyester. This means it does not impede the vibration of the timber parts of a guitar. It also has a superior look and allows a small amount of the grain to show through so it doesn't look 'plasticy' like other finishes. It can be cut back using fine wet and dry sandpaper and buffed to a very high gloss.

Safety - Like all lacquers of this type it is extremely important to read the safety instructions and Material Safety Data Sheet. This product has strong fumes so it is important to spray in a ventilated area and use a respirator mask designed for spray paint. It is also highly flammable.

Application - Spraying with a regular spray gun and compressor or HLVP spray gun is recommended. Brushing or rolling is not recommended.

Classic Instrument Lacquer can be used on its own for a natural, clear finish or as a clear coat over a tinted, sunburst or opaque Nitrocellulose colour coat. There is no need for a sanding sealer though grain filler or epoxy filing can be used as a preparation on porous timbers.

Several coats of lacquer should be applied with a light sand and several hours drying time between coats. It is important a thick enough layer is applied to allow cutting back and polishing. The cutting back is done with fine wet and dry sandpaper and polishing compound. It is possible to achieve a mirror finish with proper cutting back.

Thinning - Thinning is usually required, especially during final coats. It is important to only use Mohawk thinners as it contains the optimal mix of solvents for this lacquer and will reduce the potential for incompatibility, 'blushing' and other issues during spraying.

The amount of thinning required will depend on the spray equipment used, nozzle size and climate conditions but 20%-70% (4:1 - 3:2) is a normal range. It is recommended to experiment with different ratios of thinners to find the optimum blend for your equipment. If spraying in a humid environment it is recommended to add a small amount of retarder to reduce blushing issues.