Anyone use nitrocellulose for finish??

[SteveR]

Just wondering.  As a luthier for quite a few years nitro is a breeze to get good results with at least for me.  Not that friendly with the vapors and all but if care is taken gives a very resilient and beautiful finish with much less work than varnishes...at least on musical instruments.  

My question would be is it flexible enough for a recurve bow?

[ckanous]

I have used to refinish some bows but its not very tough at all, scratches easily. I'm assuming your talking about Nitrocellulose Lacquer.

[Rob DiStefano]

i saw this topic while doing a search on bow finishes and just had to comment ...

nitrocellulose lacquer is the WORST "finish" for anything.  if offers ZERO protection against water and all other liquids.  it's so horrible a clear coat that it shouldn't even be called a "finish".  don't even consider its use for bows, let alone fine acoustic instruments.  yes, i'm a luthier who's been building and finishes instruments for over 40 years.  trust me on this.

[macbow]

I agree that it would not work. I used to do arrows with it and after a wile they would show all the cracks. If left under the leaves for a day it was a disaster.
Ron

[TimB]

They used to use Nitrocellulose dope to finish fabric covered aircraft. It is lacquer based and can't be much different that what you use on instruments. They stopped using it because of the above reasons and the fact that it's very flammable. I guess fire isn't a big concern with bows now that I think about it. Anyway, these days we use Butyrate for aircraft finish. That might work on a bow.

I'm an aircraft mech. and I work with a lot of vintage planes.  

[JamesV]

I am amazed with the amount of information on this site comming from profesionals and from years of trial and error. You guys are great, keep up the good work.

James..............

[KENDALL TECHAU]

I know it was used as a finish by Gibson and Fender Guitars and they still use it on their Vintage Reissue models. I've heard that it allows the wood to breath and thats why it was used as a guitar finish. It's very touchy about sudden temp changes. I have a 1965 Fender bass that finish checked right in front of my eyes one time, years ago, when I brought it in bar from the back of our cold bus and opened the case up right away.Lesson learned! Not too good for a bow finish!!

[AkDan]

every gasket lacquer sold is a nitro based lacquer...just something to ponder.   You can also buy a nitro based lacquer from home depot or lowes.  

I've had the same experience with arrows, crack city!

[Lgraham]

I agree that nitrocellulose lacquer is no good. I am a custom cabinetmaker and I have seen it fail over and over. It doesn't hold up to changes in temperature or moisture at all. Just the wood fluctuating with the seasons can crack it because it is not flexible.

[copicasso]

I am a painting contractor and I would not use regular lacquer on anything that will spend a considerable amount of time outside or that has contact with moisture. There are many more finishes that will hold up better in the elements.

[Don Stokes]

Gasket lacquer is nitrocellulose, and it works well for arrow shafts if it is the right consistency. If it is too thick, it cracks. I've used it for years successfully as an arrow finish. When it gets too thick, I thin it with acetone. It's better for it to be too thin than too thick.