Aqua Pro Guitar Lacquer gloss
This ready to use lacquer is water-based and therefor friendly for the environment and your health. The application and finishing are comparable to nitro lacquers and gives a very nice overall finish with excellent tonal qualities for your guitar and other wooden instruments.
Aqua Pro can be used as a base for an additive like Sustain concentrate colors (candy result), Sustain Mica or flakes. Spray with a spray gun or with a Preval system. Be sure to use the correct nozzle opening.
What:
Gloss lacquer based on a thermoplastic resin which is applied by spraying.
Can be used as finish over suStain colors, or mixed with suStain solids or concentrate.
Result:
Gloss finish, transparent or in the color of your choice with suStain.
Built up in several layers it gives a protective coat of your precious wood.
Preparation:
Sand the surface to grit 400. Last sanding in the direction of the grain.
Remove loose fibers by slightly wetting the surface with a damp cloth. When dried, sand lightly. Repeat and remove dust and grease.
Create a well-ventilated work space and a system to hold your guitar allowing you easy movement and ability to hang the guitar to dry. Get yourself a high quality fine-dust mask.
Application:
Aqua Pro Lacquer is ready for use.
For the primer coats, you can mix the lacquer 1:1 with distilled water or use the ready mix Aqua Pro Primer. Spray 2-3 very thin diagonally crossed layers.
Apply regular layers with 4 to 5 hours between the layers and maximum 3 layers per day.
Sand lightly (grit 800) before each new layer and remove dust.
Apply 9 – 12 layers in total, taking into account the sanding and polishing. After the last layer, let cure for 3 – 4 weeks.
Note: Aqua Pro is not transparent during application and can appear more satin, however when layers are dry, built up and after polishing, it will turn into a glossy, transparent finish.
Finish and maintain:
Sand with grits 800 to 2000 or 3000 to remove spots and create a smooth surface. Use surface light to check your work and a pad under your sanding paper to prevent finger pressure. When sanding with waterproof paper, be careful with openings such as your tuner holes, don’t let any water get into them and optionally create a water barrier with some Vaseline that is removed afterwards. Don’t let your paper get dry and remove the water with sanding dust carefully with a microfiber cloth. We highly recommend sanding with the Kovax Assilex and Tolecut dry sanding which safes you a lot of hassle and gives you a smoother result in less time.
Polish with Menzerna 400, 2500 and 3500 to a shiny gloss. When using a machine polisher, be careful not to overheat the surface of your finish.
Clean regularly with a damp (not wet) cloth or Lemon Oil.
Safety:
Although Aqua Pro guitar lacquer is solvent free, we still recommend to ventilate well and wear a high quality fine-dust mask and protective clothing! Clean tools with water.
Tip:
- Check the Kovax complete sanding system for lacquer finish.
- Want some color? Apply suStain under your lacquer, or mix suStain concentrate with your lacquer for a translucent candy color or suStain Solids for a solid color. Add pigments to a max of 5% and optionally add 30% of distilled water to spray light coats and built up to the desired color. Finish with at least 5 layers of clear coat.
Finishing products and product combinations should always be tested before use.