What is catalyzed urethane?

Catalyzed urethane is a 2 part (3 if you count reducer) clear that’s mostly used in auto painting. You basically have a clear and a hardener (catalyst) that mix together to make the clear harden. Catalyzed paint, unlike most other types of paint, contains a hardener that allows it to cure and dry more quickly.

What is the best finish for an acoustic guitar?

Nitrocellulose lacquer This is traditionally the most common finish used on steel string acoustic guitars. It is very durable and resists scratching. If it is applied too thickly it can crack but when? applied well and not too thickly, this is still a very good finish for acoustic guitars.

What is urethane guitar finish?

Urethane is dried by chemicals and can be ready to buff out in just a few days. Nitro needs to air dry to release its solvent and it’s usually a good bet it will take about thirty days to dry. Urethane is far more durable, scratch resistant and easy to work with.

Can you use polyurethane on a guitar?

The two types of finishes traditionally used on guitars are nitro-cellulose lacquer and polyurethane. Most guitar companies use polyurethane. Fender used nitro until the late 1960s and Martin and Gibson still use nitro finishes on their guitars.

What to use with 2K catalyzed polyurethane finishes?

Polyisocyanates are moisture-sensitive and should be resealed quickly after dispensing and stored with an inert gas blanket covering the surface (e.g., nitrogen, Bloxygen, etc.). Additionally, the thinners and solvents used with 2K PU have to be water and alcohol free to prevent problems during storage and with the final finish.

What makes polyurethane the best finish for guitar?

As with varnish, the addition of the polyurethane makes the resin tougher and more scratch resistant, but without the same solvent and heat resistance as its oil-based lacquers. In India and Thailand, an insect that is about the size of an apple seed: Laccifera Lacca, secretes an amber colored resin-like substance called: ‘Lac’.

What makes a catalyzed lacquer a durable finish?

Catalyzed lacquer is a complex finish composed of urea formaldehyde or urea melamine and an alkyd that has some nitrocellulose resin added (to make it handle like normal lacquer). The addition of an acid catalyst starts a chemical reaction that forms a durable finish. Catalyzed lacquer comes in 2 versions:

What kind of finish is used on a Fender guitar?

In liquid plastic resin form, it made an extremely fast-drying, tough and durable finish (also used for dance floors and bowling alleys) that formed a much harder and abrasion-resistant layer around a guitar than nitro, while still allowing good wood resonance. Further, urethane ages well—it doesn’t check, crack and yellow as nitro finishes do.