Actually I think 1k acrylics would be much safer to use. You can get a really good result, it just takes a bit more work. 

2k polyurethane is such an amazing product, it has all the advantages over the others BUT....... it’s very very bad for your health as I’ve already explained. 

Here is a 1K Acrylic clear coat - http://www.express-paints.co.uk/proxl-clear-lacquer-aerosol-500ml/  

Here is the 2K version - http://www.express-paints.co.uk/proxl-2k-clear-aerosol-500ml/  

You will notice one big difference immediately, the price. The 2K is nearly double the cost. It’s far superior in nearly every way, that’s why. 

👍🖌️🎨@boo. 

🙏🎸🙂🎶

Yes 2k clear is awesome

Watch this video

He is using spray guns but it’s the same paints as it is in the rattle cans, the principle is the same. 

@russ You can use this for getting a matt finish on a guitar neck, it will be smooth to the touch but with a matt appearance. 

Another way is to spray the whole neck with a full gloss clear and leave to dry and cure. Flat the paint smooth so it’s matt, not gloss.Then buff up the front face of the headstock to a high gloss finish. The rest of it would be that really soft, smooth feel like the back of the neck. 

@russ Sorry, I forgot the link. 😂 

Her you go. http://www.express-paints.co.uk/proxl-matt-lacquer-aerosol-400ml/

Are you still interested?  

Not so much!!I think my lungs probably have enough to cope with dealing with dust so upping the ante with chemical poisons might just be a step too far! 

1K acrylic here I come!

Thanks for all the advice Boo, priceless!

Cheers

Darren

Not so much!!I think my lungs probably have enough to cope with dealing with dust so upping the ante with chemical poisons might just be a step too far! 

1K acrylic here I come!

@darrenking I might also add that Nitrocellulose paints and lacquers are also very toxic and were made illegal to use in the automotive industry. They DO NOT contain isocyanates BUT are still very toxic. Continued exposure or an intense spraying session with high concentrations being inhaled due to not wearing a proper breathing mask will result in the central nervous system being attacked with varying medical effects. These effects can last for months, years or indefinitely in extreme cases. Nitro never fully cures, it is always degrading and breaking down over years and decades, that’s why old guitars have that beaten up, road worn, broken down paint falling off them, it’s not actually good paint. I know people love it for aesthetic purposes and so-called tonal qualities but it really isn’t a good product, I’ve never been attracted to it. 

It’s a pain to work with, it’s very time consuming and needs very good environmental conditions to be applied effectively and is open to a lot of defects. Some people like it because it breaks down and it is imperfect but it’s not for me, there are other ways of achieving those looks. 

1K Acrylic paints and clears for guitar building mortals is the way to go. 👍 

Nitro = Bad 👎 

2K paints and clears = Dangerous and not worth the risk to your health unless you are confident you can protect yourself and others and you know what you are doing. 👎 

1K Acrylic paints and clears for guitar building mortals is the way to go.  

Thanks Boo,

But I wonder, has anyone out there in GMUK land used 1K acrylics on an acoustic build?

But I wonder, has anyone out there in GMUK land used 1K acrylics on an acoustic build?

@darrenking I don’t know, I’ll try and find out though. 

I think a key thing to remember when choosing between 1K acrylic and 2K (at least for me because my desire for "the best" has a tendency to pull me towards 2K despite its practical issues) is that Nitro has been considered an acceptable finish since the dawn of electric guitars, so as long as 1K is better than Nitro, it's just fine! 

Incidentally, I just found that Northwest guitars do a water based top coat in gloss or satin, but it's hidden in their "Water based stains" section.

@darrenking, for what it's worth they even have a gloss one specifically targeted at acoustics.

https://www.northwestguitars.co.uk/northwest-guitars-water-based-glossy-top-coat-for-acoustic-guitars-2/

Northwest guitars do a water based top coat

It must be good, it's sold out! I'll keep an eye out for it becoming available again.

I think a key thing to remember when choosing between 1K acrylic and 2K (at least for me because my desire for "the best" has a tendency to pull me towards 2K despite its practical issues) is that Nitro has been considered an acceptable finish since the dawn of electric guitars, so as long as 1K is better than Nitro, it's just fine! 

@jonhodgson Yeah Nitro was the best paint technology available back then so that’s what they used. People only want it these days because it’s a trend and considered retro, the things to have. Paint technology has moved on since and there are much better products for this application. Like you say, 1K Acrylic will do just fine, it comes up just as nice as 2K but it just takes more work. 👍

@boo. So, can I just check with you? 1K Acrylic paint is completely different from the Aerosol guitar paints that I've been looking at from Northwest Guitars or Dartfords? 

Are these the kind of thing I should look at? 

https://www.toolstoday.co.uk/prosolve-all-purpose-acrylic-gloss-spray-paints-500ml  

🎶🙂🎸🙏

Now what we need is for Darren to come up with a nifty design for an affordable collapsible spray booth.

So, can I just check with you? 1K Acrylic paint is completely different from the Aerosol guitar paints that I've been looking at from Northwest Guitars or Dartfords? 

@russ Yes they are different. Guitar building supply shops mostly only sell Nitrocellulose (Nitro or Cellulose or celly) paints and some water bourn/based paints. I haven’t found one that sells 1K, 2K or enamel or anything else for spraying. They may sell different wipe on products etc but not for spraying paint. 

Are these the kind of thing I should look at? 

Yes those are 1K acrylic spray paints but they look cheap. I would use car body shop supply shops because the paint products are of a better quality. 

Use this place. http://www.express-paints.co.uk/proxl-clear-lacquer-aerosol-500ml/  

You can get any colour under the sun in a rattle can from here and then use a 1K clear to seal them in. 

I need to do a video on rattle cans and paint types. 

You can get any colour under the sun in a rattle can from here and then use a 1K clear to seal them in. 

That's great @boo. I've managed to navigate their site to find their Aerosol colours but can I be a pain and ask if you know the difference between BSR and RAL Aerosols? 

🙏🎸🙂🎶

can I be a pain and ask if you know the difference between BSR and RAL Aerosols? 

Sorry @boo. I think I've sussed out that it's just different colour charts. Thank for your help. 

🎶🙂🎸🙏