ColorTone Aerosol Guitar Lacquer
The easiest way to spray a professional finish!
Produces a beautiful traditional nitrocellulose lacquer finish, without elaborate spray equipment.
ColorTone® Clear Aerosol Guitar Lacquer is formulated especially for musical instruments. Fast-drying and resistant to alcohol and water, it produces a hard, durable finish that enhances the beauty of the wood.
Available in convenient 13-ounce spray cans.
ColorTone® Nitrocellulose Guitar Lacquer can be applied over smooth bare wood, sanded basecoats of grain filler, ColorTone Aerosol Guitar Lacquer Sealer, and over ColorTone Stains. Perfect for touch-up work, or for finishing an entire instrument. The rotating-tip nozzle can spray a horizontal or vertical pattern.
Aerosol spraying is an economical way for the beginner to apply a first finish without elaborate setup or equipment. Aerosols produce a slightly rougher surface than spray guns, however, and more sanding may be needed for a level surface.
How many cans do you need?
- Electric guitar neck: No sealer, 2 to 3 cans lacquer
- Solid body electric: 1 can sealer, 3 to 4 cans lacquer
- Acoustic or archtop guitar: 1 can sealer, 4 to 6 cans lacquer
- Mandolin or dulcimer: 1 can sealer, 3 to 4 cans lacquer
- Banjo rim and neck: 1 can sealer, 3 to 4 cans lacquer
- Ukulele: 1 can sealer, 2 to 3 cans lacquer
Number of cans needed may vary depending on how heavy the coats are applied, number of coats, and desired thickness on your instrument.
Clear Satin typically requires fewer coats. Successive thin coats should be sanded to maintain a level surface. Don't sand the final coat; the flattener in the lacquer will give a smooth satin appearance.
Application Tips
We recommend spraying multiple thin coats, in a low humidity environment. Heavy-bodied Sanding Sealer (one coat equals two coats of lacquer) will seal stained or unstained wood before the color coats or clear topcoats are applied. At least one can of Sanding Sealer and 4-6 cans of lacquer will usually finish a complete guitar.
Our ColorTone Aerosol Finishing Kit is a great choice for the first-time instrument maker. It includes our easy-to-apply clear gloss aerosol finish with the best instruction book available!
Tip: Use warm lacquer for better results
Pro shops spray heated lacquer because cold lacquer spatters, requiring extra sanding. You should warm up your aerosol lacquer too, simply soak the cans in a sink of warm tap water. See our video with even more tips on how to spray a professional finish at home.
ColorTone Aerosol Guitar Lacquer
