Nitro over Chromabase?

jbabco · November 26th, 2007, 03:09 PM

I never got a response in the main forum so I thought I'd try here. Any issues with spraying nitro over Chromabase automotive base coat? The guy at the automotive finishing supply where I bought it was pretty sure it would not work, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that it's not a problem.

boris bubbanov · November 26th, 2007, 03:16 PM

I don't know anything about Chromabase. I may not be the only one, please share anything you can about it. Is it, for instance, catalyzed like most new auto finish products? Does it go by another name in other markets?

Much obliged,

Bubbanov

jbabco · November 26th, 2007, 04:26 PM

Don't know much about it. Hoping to get some insight from those who have tried it.

Some info here and here. Not sure if it will help though.

Telelicious · November 26th, 2007, 07:03 PM

Nitro lacquer will go over almost anything as long as the finish underneath is completely dry. Of course you should try it in a small hidden spot first. An auto paint guy might be iffy on the subject because nitro lacquer hasnt been used as a standard automotive finish for quite awhile now. In auto paint verbage its called "straight" lacquer. The lacquers they sell now are acrylic lacquers.
An interesting note is that most all standard "touch up" paints available from auto parts stores are acrylic lacquer because they will go over most all types of auto paints. And they are sandable. Of course, unless the can says different. I know its that way for the Duplicolor brand. Thats a huge selection of colors!!
One trick to spray nitro over something tempermental is to barely haze the first coat and let it dry. Just enough so that the surface can still breath. Haze again and let it dry. After you do this a few times you can spray a normal coat.
Its a good idea to do it this way when finishing a headstock over a fresh waterslide logo. Ive buckled a couple logos by applying too heavy at first.

Blaze us a trail.

jbabco · November 26th, 2007, 08:33 PM

Thanks for the info. After doing a little more searching online, I'm pretty sure this Chromabase stuff is urethane. You're right in that the auto paint guy didn't seem too clear about what it was. I kept asking if it was acrylic and he kept saying "no, it's basecoat" and telling me I couldn't top it with lacquer. Or course, he could be just trying to sell me some of his proprietary Dupont topcoat which he mentioned would work.

I'll certainly do some testing on some scrap first, but I'm a little nervous about it to be honest. I like you're idea of misting it on first to build up a thin skin of it before going heavy.

jbabco · January 19th, 2008, 10:56 AM

Success!

7 coats of nitro over the Chromabase (urethane, sonic blue) car paint. So far so good. Nitro is a bit orange-peely but should sand out ok.

andy__woods · January 19th, 2008, 11:17 AM

Looks good!

Caper · January 19th, 2008, 11:50 AM

The thing is the aerosol cans of nitro most likely wouldn't have the same amount of thinner mixed in as would be used in mixing nitro in the bodyshop. I've seen first hand what it can do; more than once

Sometimes you just get lucky.

jbabco · January 19th, 2008, 02:01 PM

Yeah we used less thinner than normal for this, since we were shooting the clear in pretty cold Toronto weather in the old backyard shed.

Caper · January 19th, 2008, 02:46 PM

The trick to spraying lacquer over any finish, is not get it too wet, looks like a great job.

martino · January 19th, 2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbabco

I never got a response in the main forum so I thought I'd try here. Any issues with spraying nitro over Chromabase automotive base coat? The guy at the automotive finishing supply where I bought it was pretty sure it would not work, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that it's not a problem.

I think your talking about the Dupont basecaot that has a life time
warranty called Chromabase right?
My chopper and hot rod friends Rave about that stuff high build
smooth finish no orange-peel !
what would you say jbabco how did it work for you ?
what kinda spray setup did you use?

I have everthing I need to spray guitars withautomotive finish BUT
all those products are soooo pricey!!!

Your guitar looks good from the pix I just wonder about
working with any kinda paint in that cold wether hope
it does not check or crack on ya.

plaese keep us posted good luck!

jbabco · January 20th, 2008, 11:43 AM

Yes. It's a Dupont product. Got it at the local auto car paint supply place. And, yeah, it's pricey. $30 for a single spray bomb. Good news is you could probably get 2 guitar bodies from a single spray can since the stuff goes on so nicely over primer. I used BIN shellac-based primer. (I've heard KILZ goes on nicer than BIN, which went on very unevenly and required a lot of sanding, FYI) Good news if you have a nice, primed body thats totally smooth, this Chromabase stuff goes on so thin and even that you really don't need that much, just a single even coat. I didn't even sand the colour coat. Just went straight on to the clear.

I was concerned about checking since we sprayed the nitro in sub-zero weather. When I brought the body inside after 24 hours it didn't check at all. Maybe since the nitro hadn't really cured yet it's still OK for the temperature change? You're guess is as good as mine.

Anyway, I was nervous about spraying nitro over Chromabase until i found this article. The author seems very knowledgeable and recommends this method.

November 26th, 2007, 03:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
jbabco TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 42 26 Photos	Nitro over Chromabase? I never got a response in the main forum so I thought I'd try here. Any issues with spraying nitro over Chromabase automotive base coat? The guy at the automotive finishing supply where I bought it was pretty sure it would not work, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that it's not a problem.

January 19th, 2008, 11:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
andy__woods Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 23 Posts: 1,139 60 Photos	Looks good! __________________ -- Andy "Woods" Crowder --

November 26th, 2007, 03:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,144	I don't know anything about Chromabase. I may not be the only one, please share anything you can about it. Is it, for instance, catalyzed like most new auto finish products? Does it go by another name in other markets? Much obliged, Bubbanov

November 26th, 2007, 04:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
jbabco TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 42 26 Photos	Don't know much about it. Hoping to get some insight from those who have tried it. Some info here and here. Not sure if it will help though.

November 26th, 2007, 07:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Telelicious Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Seattle Age: 44 Posts: 403	Nitro lacquer will go over almost anything as long as the finish underneath is completely dry. Of course you should try it in a small hidden spot first. An auto paint guy might be iffy on the subject because nitro lacquer hasnt been used as a standard automotive finish for quite awhile now. In auto paint verbage its called "straight" lacquer. The lacquers they sell now are acrylic lacquers. An interesting note is that most all standard "touch up" paints available from auto parts stores are acrylic lacquer because they will go over most all types of auto paints. And they are sandable. Of course, unless the can says different. I know its that way for the Duplicolor brand. Thats a huge selection of colors!! One trick to spray nitro over something tempermental is to barely haze the first coat and let it dry. Just enough so that the surface can still breath. Haze again and let it dry. After you do this a few times you can spray a normal coat. Its a good idea to do it this way when finishing a headstock over a fresh waterslide logo. Ive buckled a couple logos by applying too heavy at first. Blaze us a trail.

November 26th, 2007, 08:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
jbabco TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 42 26 Photos	Thanks for the info. After doing a little more searching online, I'm pretty sure this Chromabase stuff is urethane. You're right in that the auto paint guy didn't seem too clear about what it was. I kept asking if it was acrylic and he kept saying "no, it's basecoat" and telling me I couldn't top it with lacquer. Or course, he could be just trying to sell me some of his proprietary Dupont topcoat which he mentioned would work. I'll certainly do some testing on some scrap first, but I'm a little nervous about it to be honest. I like you're idea of misting it on first to build up a thin skin of it before going heavy.

January 19th, 2008, 10:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
jbabco TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 42 26 Photos	Success! 7 coats of nitro over the Chromabase (urethane, sonic blue) car paint. So far so good. Nitro is a bit orange-peely but should sand out ok.

January 19th, 2008, 11:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
Caper Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,151 6 Photos	The thing is the aerosol cans of nitro most likely wouldn't have the same amount of thinner mixed in as would be used in mixing nitro in the bodyshop. I've seen first hand what it can do; more than once Sometimes you just get lucky.

January 19th, 2008, 02:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
jbabco TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 42 26 Photos	Yeah we used less thinner than normal for this, since we were shooting the clear in pretty cold Toronto weather in the old backyard shed.

January 19th, 2008, 02:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
Caper Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,151 6 Photos	The trick to spraying lacquer over any finish, is not get it too wet, looks like a great job.

January 20th, 2008, 11:43 AM	#12 (permalink)
jbabco TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 42 26 Photos	Yes. It's a Dupont product. Got it at the local auto car paint supply place. And, yeah, it's pricey. $30 for a single spray bomb. Good news is you could probably get 2 guitar bodies from a single spray can since the stuff goes on so nicely over primer. I used BIN shellac-based primer. (I've heard KILZ goes on nicer than BIN, which went on very unevenly and required a lot of sanding, FYI) Good news if you have a nice, primed body thats totally smooth, this Chromabase stuff goes on so thin and even that you really don't need that much, just a single even coat. I didn't even sand the colour coat. Just went straight on to the clear. I was concerned about checking since we sprayed the nitro in sub-zero weather. When I brought the body inside after 24 hours it didn't check at all. Maybe since the nitro hadn't really cured yet it's still OK for the temperature change? You're guess is as good as mine. Anyway, I was nervous about spraying nitro over Chromabase until i found this article. The author seems very knowledgeable and recommends this method.