Dakota Red....soooo close!

[jfgesquire]

So Dakota Red.... You can either get nitro or go to your local paint guy and he'll mix urethane.

But, my limited understanding is that the Fender colors of the 60's were more often than not acrylic lacquers.

Now, dupli-color spray cans is an acrylic lacquer, or so I've been told...and I have purchased and used the Olympic White as it is still a current GM color. I liked the coverage and finish a lot.



So I'm at a gas station the other day and a Honda Accord pulls up behind me.... And I swear the color is exactly what I expect Dakota Red to look like. Honda calls it San Marino Red....

I figured "great! I'll check dupli-color!". Except dupli-color only makes it in a touch up pen not in the spray can. Rats. So close!!!

Reranch appears temporarily closed. It looks like I'm going to have to go with the brand sold at BYO Guitars... Ohio Valley nitro or some name similar... Has anyone used it before?

Is Stewmac the only vendor that sells white vinyl sealer? Behlens appears to be only in clear...

This s*cks that I have to buy each finish from a different vendor and pay ridiculous shipping. Sealer from one vendor, color from another vendor, amber lacquer tint from a third...$30 in shipping... Yuk.

 

[Silverface]

There are SO many variations of Dakota Red just piuck one.

The original color was made by several different vendors. Fender bought from local paint stores, so whoever could get them a gallon or two when needed go the order.

They all shift and fade in different ways, which is why every single "original Dakota red" guitar I've come across has had to be inspected with my ultraviolet finish detector to ensure originality.

Pick the one you like and use it. It won't look the same as most other ones. It is what it is.

 

[jfgesquire]

There are SO many variations of Dakota Red just piuck one.

The original color was made by several different vendors. Fender bought from local paint stores, so whoever could get them a gallon or two when needed go the order.

They all shift and fade in different ways, which is why every single "original Dakota red" guitar I've come across has had to be inspected with my ultraviolet finish detector to ensure originality.

Pick the one you like and use it. It won't look the same as most other ones. It is what it is.

I absolutely agree with you....

My concern with the Ohio Valley brand is adhesion and coverage...as long as it's dark red I'll be happy as far as the color is concerned. I may even add a little toner to my clear lacquer top coat to darken it up a little more, make it look a little vintage color shifted.

I like the dupli-color spray paint, but the closest color in their lineup right now is more of a tomato, not even close.

 

[Silverface]

My concern with the Ohio Valley brand is adhesion and coverage

If it's a common solvent-based acrylic/nitrocellulose blend like virtually every readily available aerosol lacquer adhesion won't be an issue. Lacquer - due to the basic solvent blend and resins - melts into itself creating a single. contiguous coat. There are a few weird ones, like Deft's lacquers, which are made to cure slowly - although the underlying chemistry is the same.

As far as coverage goes, IMO if an opaque system is slightly more transparent I prefer it. I'd rather build multiple coats than be tempted into getting a system to hide in just 3 or 4 coats. Also, the more heavily pigmented a lacquer is the more the gloss may be affected by application, film thickness, polishing etc.

If you're using a particular product for the first time I recommend buying enough to complete a decent-sized mockup (practice piece) that includes every product you'll use from prep-to-polishing. Do that before starting on the guitar part(s) and you won't end up with surprises and be able to fine-tune your technique.

 

[blackbelt308]

Reranch is open again, FYI. I also needed DR!