Re: srpaying clear hi gloss lacquer on Danish oil finish ?
The rule in the violin world is soft over hard is OK, but hard over soft results in crazing or cracking. So using a spirit varnish (alcohol based) over an oil varnish (linseed oil based) is a no no--unless you are trying to get a wrinkled effect.
Nitro lacquer is a hard finish. The type of oil you are using does not build on the wood typically, so there really is no "coating" going on there--or, not much. If you are sure the oil finish, which is in the pores of the wood, is fully dried, then I think you'd be OK to spray lacquer on top. You should use a vinyl sealer first to make sure it will adhere to the oil.
But it doesn't make a lot of sense to overcoat it with lacquer. If you have a nice clean finish with the oil, the french polish approach might give you the gloss you want, though it's a softer shine than buffed lacquer, and would likely be safe because it's a very thin coating. Danish oil with lacquer on top is just not a normal approach to instrument finishing. I have read opinions that any finish that penetrates the wood, as Danish oil does, is not good for tone. But I also know that some reputable and skilled violin makers have used Tung Oil to finish their fiddles. Tung oil is basically a natural version of the Danish oil you've used.
Jack C.
non illegitimati carborundum
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