Flat lacquer finis

[Luthier]

I have done so much finishing it is not funny but one thing I am not familiar with is a flat lacquer and its application. I have added one part flattening agent to 8 parts of satin lacquer as the instructions have stated. (16 oz / gal) I need to know if I must start my first coats with the flattened lacquer or whether I can begin with a satin lacquer then switch to the flat mixture. Any help?

Don

[Bandersnatch Reverb]

No, you dont have to start with flat laquer. In fact, if you start with gloss, you're gonna have a better finish, one that is easier to see how the grain fills, and one that is harder (tougher).

Something you might want to try instead of flattening agent - is to mist some laquer thinner over a new just dried gloss finish. It knocks the finish down and takes the gloss down to a nice dullness - not really "flat" but just non gloss. Hard to explain. There'd be no buffing after that, so your undercoats must be grain filled, flat and smooth, ie, ready to buff.

[Luthier]

Thanks. #I have a feeling the flattening agent I got was meant for an acrylic lacquer. #It had a bad reaction when it was added to and sprayed onto the previous coats using nitrocellulose. #The previous coats reacted with some crackling and also white blotches. #Live and learn.

Don