CrystaLac Brite-Tone Top Coat & Instrument Finish
Application Instructions
There are countless techniques and methods for finishing instruments and crafts. There is no best or right...it is YOUR way and represents part of the ART of lutherie & crafting. We recommend experimenting with the following technique and tailoring the schedule to suit your project and skill level.
Notes: Stir (do not shake) Brite-Tone Instrument finish thoroughly and strain prior to use. Do not thin with water. If necessary, thin only with Brite-Tone Reducer/Retarder. Do not apply below 15ºC or in a draft. Always test and perfect the complete finishing schedule to your satisfaction on comparable scrap material before using on project materials.
Preparation: Seal bare, stained or grain-filled wood substrates with Brite-Tone Sanding Sealer or alternatively, seal surface with 2 mist coats of reduced Brite-Tone Instrument Finish. Allow to dry for 24 hours minimum. Lightly scuff sand sealed surface with 400 grit paper or maroon grade pad.
Application: Spray apply a full, wet coat of Brite-Tone Instrument Finish over sealed surface with a well atomized mist just to the point of being wet (approx. 2 wet mils). Dries to touch within 45 minutes. Allow minimum 2 hours before applying subsequent coats. Dry sand with 600 or 800 grit paper between coats to remove blemishes (do NOT wet sand between coats).
Apply maximum of 3 coats per 24 hour period. Allowing longer drying time between coats will improve curing cycle and final hardness of finish. A total of 4 to 5 wet coats will often provide sufficient film thickness but additional coats may be applied if desired.
Brushing: Brite-Tone finishes can be applied by brushing with excellent results. We recommend reducing Brite-Tone Instrument finish with 20% Brite-Tone Reducer to permit longer working time of the finish. Use a good quality, synthetic bristle brush.
Do NOT overwork the finish...apply in deliberate, even strokes with only one or two back-brush levelling strokes. Resist temptation to "touch up" any blemishes as they will be more easily repaired in the next coat. It is recommended to extend time between coats to accommodate the longer dry times of the retarded finish. Expect to spend additional time with careful sanding between coats to eliminate blemishes prior to applying the next coat.
Allow to cure for minimum of 100 hours prior to dry or wet level sanding with 800 grit paper and subsequent buffing with compatible abrasive compounds. Allowing longer final cure time will improve buffing results. Heavily applied or higher numbers of finish coats can substantially extend full cure time.
Cleanup: Warm water or acetone for hardened material.
Canadian Suppliers of Specialty Wood Finishing Products
The holy grail of waterbased finishes.
I've tried about eight different waterbourne coatings. This is BY FAR THE BEST. It's hard. It's clear. It doesn't look blue over ebony. It builds so fast that I've halved my finishing schedule and it's actually more economical because I use less! It buffs beautifully. It's repairable. This is it- the search has ended and I won't be trying anything else because I FINALLY have something that looks and behaves like nitro. Great stuff.
Great product
I switched from the other water based product and am really happy with this. I build electric guitars and I've never gotten this quality of finish before. I would get witness lines with the other product but not with this. The burn in really helps in that respect.
It's Great
Just a quick update on the Brite tone finish. It is great, it seems to be much harder than the (other product) as the wet sanding took a little more elbow grease than usual and buffs to a perfect mirror shine even over black. I am impressed and once I'm finished my (other product) it could become my finish of choice.
Cat's Meow
That Brite Tone Finish is the cat's meow. Love working with it and the results are superb.
Really Pleased
Recently I purchased some Color FX dyes and your Brite Tone Instrument Finish for a guitar that I'm building. I'm really pleased with both products. I've been working with test blocks to familiarize myself with both products and the results are outstanding. The Brite Tone clear is beautiful and easy to use. I tried airbrushing and brush-brushing; both gave excellent results. I used your reducer and found that simply brushing on 4 coats with light sanding between gives a nice level, rock hard finish...encouraging for someone who's never done this before.