Your Thoughts On "nelsonite" For A Curly Maple Neck

[FRETSMOKE]

Any collective thoughts, comments on this stuff ?

From a finishing standpoint, can a " vintage tint " Nitrocellulose Laquer be directly applied over this material with-out problems ?

Any, and ALL help would be appreciated - Thanks

[Boris Bubbanov]

The knife and gunstock makers sure love the stuff.

I haven't applied it myself, so I never knew if the necks I acquired had gotten proper dose of it, or not.

For starters, I would apply many layers of untinted lacquer first, as I think the rate of lacquer uptake might be different in different parts of the wood. You may be obliged to take down a good portion of excess lacquer on those coats to get back to a really flat surface.

Second, I'd want the clear on there first, then the tinted lacquer can be applied to lacquer, not something else, and the likelihood of freckling of the tint or pooling of the tinted layer away from the frets ( CA glue residue or whatever ) can be all but eliminated. I like to then top the tinted with much more clear lacquer, so all I'm removing during the polishing process is clear stuff. A tinted lacquer sandwich, as it were.


Bubbanov

[FRETSMOKE]

Hey, thanks for the info, also hear the Pool Cue builders use this stuff alot to stabilize their wood - I think i'm just gonna go with straight nitro. Thanks for the tips -

[Bob V]

Didn't seem from your post as though you had a choice - just figured you were ordering a Musikraft neck and they want to put the stuff on there before giving you a warranty.

Anybody have experience as to exactly which sanding sealers or clearcoats will adhere over Nelsonite without any problems? Is a vinyl sealer recommended before putting on the regular nitro? And above all has anybody tried water based lacquer over nelsonite? Woulldn't a coat of alcohol-cut dewaxed shellac be a good barrier coat whenever you're finishing over an unknown?

[Dave Orban]

Any collective thoughts, comments on this stuff ?

From a finishing standpoint, can a " vintage tint " Nitrocellulose Laquer be directly applied over this material with-out problems ?

Any, and ALL help would be appreciated - ThanksYes.

[Boris Bubbanov]

Woulldn't a coat of alcohol-cut dewaxed shellac be a good barrier coat whenever you're finishing over an unknown?

It sure would.

You know, I've been using it on bodies, last 20 or so. It is time I try a mist of shellac on the necks. I've noticed, that on wavy maple, that the uptake varies so much the waviness of the flamed maple neck telegraphs through the final finish. Shellac will fix that, too, since it can be so promptly resanded again and again.

[Jack Briggs]

I don't use vinyl sealers or sanding sealers under nitro, but I wouldn't hesitate to suggest a coat or two of shellac over the Nelsonite befor lacquering - yessir!!

[Mike9]

Nelsonite is not a finish per se - it's a sealer made to get the guitar from their place to yours. No manufacturer will warranty a neck with just Nelsonite on it. You can shoot lacquer right over it - I stain my figured necks so I usually wash them with Naptha first. YMMV.