A "tinted" nitro..........?

Does anyone on the forum have a suggestion for a similar rattle can of "tinted" nitro that is out there or a formula perhaps for tinting a lacquer for say a "preval" sprayer ?.Would love to have a big spray unit in the shop,but the funds and space are limited.Because at $16.00 + shipping the Reranch dude is not around or does'nt get it that most of us might not be doing this if not for his original commitment to this passion of our's.I do get that he's busy with "The Band" thing,....and yes i'm jealous as hell with that. I do wish him well and all,but i'd like to see someone else take it over and make a run at it.Just a small "rant"
sorry!!!! Also without you all here this G.A.S. i have for building and relic'n would just be a "fart" in the wind.......Thanxs as always......L.O.L.....:cool:

Hey There,

Stewart Macdonald sells a tinted nitro "neck laquer" in a spray can on line and they are open 24/7 to take your money.

Good luck,

Gary

Stew Mac is a good bet and has always given me excellent service.

If you have access to a decent woodworking store you can get any one of a number of things that will tint lacquer. You can even try dissolving RIT fabric dye (the powdered stuff) in lacquer thinner and then mix that into your lacquer.

In the end, it'll be a lot cheaper and faster to just buy a couple of rattle cans from Stew Mac.

Deleted double post.

Teleiac............ I read your post twice. You didn't say what color of tinted lacquer you're looking for.

I managed to get a nice butterscotch tint with nitro by adding some Minwax wood stain. I used Colonial Maple and Parchment. The first time I tried tinting my tele I tinted it with amber shellac which I later found out is a big no no.

Like Jack says, we're not sure what color tints you are after. For various off semi-trans whites and blondes, www.mohawk-finishing.com. For maple, fruitwood and light mahogany tint tones, go with Behlen Jet Spray through Woodworker's Supply.

These rattle cans are better quality than ReRanch, and are a bit under half the price. Use them in connection with Deft nitro gloss, which is $ 4.84 at Lowe's last time I stocked up.

I managed to get a nice butterscotch tint with nitro by adding some Minwax wood stain. I used Colonial Maple and Parchment. The first time I tried tinting my tele I tinted it with amber shellac which I later found out is a big no no.


Why would using schellac be a no-no?

Hey thanks to all in response....! Stew-Mac it is!!!!!!!!
Thanxs,:cool:

Why would using schellac be a no-no?

I mixed the two together to get my tint and it had poor adhesion.
The rep from Mohawk told me that you cant mix laquer and shellac together due to different rates of gassing off or something like that. You can put one over the other but you cant mix them together.

I mixed the two together to get my tint and it had poor adhesion.
The rep from Mohawk told me that you cant mix laquer and shellac together due to different rates of gassing off or something like that. You can put one over the other but you cant mix them together.

Ahh, that makes sense.... I thought you were suggesting you couldn't put one on top of the other and was going to ask the same question as Eryque!

I love amber shellac. I think it's the closest you can get to aged nitro colors. I used it on an early 70's SG and it matched the aged nitro over the headstock and binding perfectly!

if you want to tint clear nitro you can experiment by adding small drops of yellow and/or brown in a mixing jar...one or 2 drops goes a long way in tinting the color. Or if you want to wait...stand a clear glass jar of nitro out in the sun and it will naturally amber over time.

I mixed the two together to get my tint and it had poor adhesion.
The rep from Mohawk told me that you cant mix laquer and shellac together due to different rates of gassing off or something like that. You can put one over the other but you cant mix them together.

I never would have dreamed of mixing them; they have different solvent bases. Shellac will come off with denatured alcohol and a little rubbin'. Acetone is your choice of weapon with lacquer.

I am considering a de-waxed pale shellac spray over resanded wood, and I'll tell you why. I am not getting as smooth an initial finish with the nitro over wood as I am when it is sprayed over a 600 grit smooth polyurethane finish. the nitro adheres just fine, it just does not want to lay smooth and dead flat, sometimes.

I nitro'd a 600 grit smooth poly Squier 51 body with alternate layers of Deft gloss nitro and Mohawk Newberry II nitro toner, both rattle can, and the result is gorgeous, close to FMIC Arctic White. There'll be no sanding, just a bit of polishing once it is totally dry in two months. Newberry II is called a toner but it is fairly pigment heavy, opaque finish.

I managed to get a nice butterscotch tint with nitro by adding some Minwax wood stain. I used Colonial Maple and Parchment. The first time I tried tinting my tele I tinted it with amber shellac which I later found out is a big no no.

I was JUST about to start finishing my ash body and maple neck with amber shellac tonight...why is it a no-no?
I thought the first coat would be a sealer, then you could sand lightly and apply more coats - as per other posts on this site.

EDIT: Nevermind :oops:

I avoid tinting lacquer as nitro will discolor quickly on its own and eventually will look as fake as George Hamiltons tan.

If you must do it, Stew Mac sells an amber concentrated liquid dye. It works in lacquer. Add a tiny drop and test. Keep adding until it is where you want it.
I used to make my own amber from yellow, brown, and red. But the Stew Mac concentrate is pretty good on its own.