Rattle can Nitro Finish questions

[Crusher47]

I plan on stripping to bare wood and repainting one of my P-Basses in Black with StewMac Nitro rattle cans. Couple of questions for those that have done it and/or have experience using Nitro ...

1. Is it the same as regular rattle can finishes, i.e. several light coats about 15 minutes apart?

2. Is there a Nitro clear coat that goes on over the paint? If so, assuming it's applied the same way as above?

Once it's complete, I believe it takes a month or two to fully harden and cure, correct? Any other gotcha's or tips and tricks??

Thanks for your help!

 

[rudy4444]

I plan on stripping to bare wood and repainting one of my P-Basses in Black with StewMac Nitro rattle cans. Couple of questions for those that have done it and/or have experience using Nitro ...

1. Is it the same as regular rattle can finishes, i.e. several light coats about 15 minutes apart?

2. Is there a Nitro clear coat that goes on over the paint? If so, assuming it's applied the same way as above?

Once it's complete, I believe it takes a month or two to fully harden and cure, correct? Any other gotcha's or tips and tricks??

Thanks for your help!

I'm not much help; the only experience I have with Stu-Mac rattle can nitro was many years ago and I followed the recommended directions and it NEVER dried. That was disappointing because it was sold at a premium price. I ended up scraping and sanding it all off and went with something from the hardware store that worked fine.

You might check out the "How to" guides available from Reranch:

ReRanch Guitar Refinishing

 

[Crusher47]

Thank you!

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I just use water based but you might check these guys out. Their paint has gotten good reviews. If I remember right, Brad Angove has done at least 1 finish with their spray cans. Check out his YouTube channel.

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[dwizum]

One thing stewmac does really well is educational material - might want to take a look at youtube, I'm sure they have videos on their nitro spray cans since they seem to be pretty popular. I don't use nitro often myself but I can understand the attraction from a "period correct" perspective.

 

[rubis]

Day of birth '64 P bass build
I did mine with rattle cans, the finished result was quite pleasing but I wasn't aiming for a pristine finish as I then relic'd it slightly.
I used a sealer, then white primer, colour coat and then a tinted lacquer to give it the aged look and clear laquer to finish.
I should imagine Texas is warmer than Plymouth, but be wary if you are spraying indoors, nitro stinks!

Good luck

 

[Pilgrim]

Nitro is the class option, but there is also acrylic lacquer, which wears and shines in similar fashion. Dries pretty fast, too.

I used Stew-Mac acrylic lacquer to avoid the health and safety issues of nitro.

Sequence: wood sealer > primer > undercoat > multiple tinted lacquer color coats > multiple lacquer clear coats.

But I used an auto detail gun to spray it and an airbrush to do the black burst, not rattle cans.

 

[Crusher47]

Thanks everyone