How to achieve a matte finish?

[Rôckhewer]

I wanted to share my recent matte experience to contribute to this thread. The product I used was Crystalac Brite Tone Matte. After some research on application techniques, I decided to try brushing with a White China bristle brush (found some people who swear by this type for clears). I was planning on spraying it if this didn't work.

I brushed the product directly on (no retarder or thinning). I tried to get the thinnest coat I could but still maintain even coverage. The product went on easy, but looked really thick!
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At this point, I didn't know what to expect. It's so shiny when you apply it that it is hard to imagine it as matte. However, as time went on, the magic began. It started to flow out and dry, and after about an hour it looks flat out amazing.
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Definitely worth trying IMO.

Does their product info...recommend... spray application?

 

[turindev]

Does their product info...recommend... spray application?

Yup it's spray or brush.

Brite Tone Instrument Finish / High Solids Polyurethane

 

[Rôckhewer]

Way cheaper than 2K...
Does it compare hardness wise?
I haven't gone down the water base rabbit hole...

 

[turindev]

Way cheaper than 2K...
Does it compare hardness wise?
I haven't gone down the water base rabbit hole...

I don't have enough experience personally to say yet, but from what I have seen from others it is supposed to be pretty hard. Here are the videos that got me on to this product. (This is for the gloss version, but it should perform the same).

 

[bolophonic]

Seems to me like you could get the lacquer with whatever finish you wanted from matte all the way up to high gloss...

If you want a matte finish, then get lacquer with a matte finish and save yourself a bunch of sanding.

But maybe not — with all these folks recommending sanding maybe they know something i don't.

A plain matte lacquer simply cannot give you the same richness that you get from buffing down a gloss. Even buffing a matte finish will give you something less “matte” that looks awesome.

 

[rudy4444]

Robbie O'Brien has a nice overview of using the Crystalac products on the O'Brien Guitars Youtube channel. He demos spruce and rosewood and applies it with a foam brush to purposefully see how forgiving the finish is to "home shop" methods.

(Whoops! Linked in the last post!!!)

 

[Danpirvine]

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This turned out so good !!
From memory do you remember you’re process
How many coats did you sand in between coats

I’m yet to do this kind of job

 

[Skillet]

This turned out so good !!
From memory do you remember you’re process
How many coats did you sand in between coats

I’m yet to do this kind of job

I have slept a few times since then, but iirc I did 2 coats of the primer, 2 of the color, and then 4 or 5 for the clear.

I would've been lightly sanding between each coat with 800 to 1000 grit paper probably.

After doing several projects with lacquer where I was doing dozens of coats, doing this style was so much easier.