Nitrocellulose Cure Time

[shredaholic]

I'm waiting for a neck that I've painted with nitro lacquer to be ready for final sanding and polishing - how long should I give it to cure before I work on it? I've heard suggestions ranging from 5 days to 1 month...

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Nitrocellulose Cure Time

early 2012

Seriously 5 days is safe, but after the perfect wetsand and buff you will still experience some shrinkage. 1 month is safer, and will probably take a good year or two to have any significant shrinkage after that. An old technique is to smell it. When you can't smell the solvents anymore, they've evaporated. That's okay, but lots of times I want the guitar to be done! If it's my personal guitar, I'll buff after a few days, then re-buff a year or so later.

 

[shredaholic]

Re: Nitrocellulose Cure Time

I don't mind rebuffing later, so I'll probably get it buffed this weekend then - it's been drying over 2 days already. Thanks

 

[John Wymore]

Re: Nitrocellulose Cure Time

I agree, you can work it initially after a few days but it's not really hard for about a month. Be careful on the initial buff not to put scratches in it and then come back later to do the final buff for a really good gloss.

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Nitrocellulose Cure Time

If you had time, could you just leave it for a month or so and do one final buff? I assume so, but I've never actually messed with nitro.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Nitrocellulose Cure Time

I like the old smell trick. I know when I bought my last new les paul, I left the guitar out of the case for a month or so to alleviate the stickiness. But, I also rubbed it down daily and gave it the old "hot breath" treatment.