A Couple of Tips For Spraying Water Based Topcoats

[@ancientmartianunderground6413]

8 weeks of searching and your video is the most informative. Cannot thank you enough

[@gilsolomon]

Chris, it's so awesome to discover old videos of yours I don't already know! This was really helpful!!!

[@adamcoe]

I have the same sprayer and I hadn't considered the temperature thing, great tip!

[@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars]

I've watched this and taken notes from your excellent experience and advice. I've got a boxed Apollo HVLP Turbine unit at my workshop and a 5L can of Morrell's water based interior clear gloss lacquer to try out. This video will give me the best start possible - and I'm SO looking forward to it when I have a bit of spare time to play! Many thanks for sharing this.

[@canyonadvisors6449]

Chris, I swear by your videos. Bought some Flat Out Flat, and it turned out flawlessly. Really appreciate your advice. I'll keep coming back for more. -Jeff

[@Nickporter17]

Coming back to hear these tips again and wishing I could give you like a hundred thumbs up. 👍 Thank you.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Awesome, thank you!

[@drumgerry]

Brilliant info Chris! I use the exact same Earlex as you and had terrible orange peel spraying General Finishes Enduro Var on my last guitar. This will help lots on my current project - thanks!

[@robertbankhead8661]

Excellent advice, thanks for the video.

[@AndrewSmith-en6vk]

This is awesome information. I love water based finishes. You addressed the exact issues I sometimes face. Will watch again and take notes!

[@TheBudgetMindedMotorist]

Really appreciate you sharing your experience. I'm used to spraying oil based paints with my turbine HVLP but these water based clears are a totally different animal. My oil based paint almost always levels out pretty well but my first attempt at spraying polycrylic was an orange peel nightmare. Looking forward to trying out your advice!

[@Csjustice72]

Love your videos! When I watch these kinds of videos, I don't just want to see it being done. I like to know WHY it is done that way. Thank you!!

[@pauldees2629]

Hi Chris, Will the Earlex 5500 HVLP system spray Cyrstalac Water Based Sanding Sealer without any problems, or is it better to use an LVLP gun? I'm trying to save money by just buying the Earlex 5500 for both the sealer and the top coats (I'll be using Crystalac Brite Tone), but I wanted to see what your thoughts are. Thank you for all of your tutorials; they've been a tremendous help.

[@HighlineGuitars]

The Earlex works great. Any gun you buy for this needs to have all stainless steel internals. Many LVLP guns do not.

[@JulianPaulJonesSfatcu]

Wonderful video lesson!Thank you very much for sharing!Julian

[@TruthSurge]

I would say that the milky look is always in the finish right after you spray. It's just that with a very thin coat, it isn't as noticeable. Saying that it is some problem is a bit misleading, I would think, because it isn't a problem, it is the nature of the medium. The thinner the coat, the harder it is to notice, that's all. Just how I see it. :)

[@ancientmartianunderground6413]

At 9:00 you answered my question about orange peel....the air is heated by turbine HVLP thanks!!!

[@MrRenoman2011]

awesome info thanks

[@brokenxj]

Great video, thank you.

[@Eponymous62]

So, no LVLP set up is going to spray a crystalac brite tone finish? Should I use foam brush, instead and do a minimal level at the beginning of each day, do maybe 8-10 coats or so, over 3 or 4 days?

[@HighlineGuitars]

You can use LVLP.

[@ancientmartianunderground6413]

I have heard of spraying "wet on wet" to avoid layering issues....I am using Mowhawk waterborne lacquer....any thoughts,?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Watch out for the dreaded milky blue haze.

[@brokenxj]

Great video. Have you ever tried chilling the finish to compensate for the heat generated by the turbine?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Chilling a water-based clear coat product will ruin it. It has to be kept at or above 65°F to dry and cure properly. Therefore you have to adjust the gun for best coverage and you might have to add a flow enhancer to slow the drying process. Chilling the product will ruin it.

[@brokenxj]

@@HighlineGuitars Good to know, Thanks!

[@Shipwreck0316]

Awesome video with lots of great info! Can I use waterborne polyurethane over solvent based polyurethane once the solvent based color basecoat has dried and cured and is properly sanded? I want to spray General Finishes HPU clear satin over some House of Kolor color basecoats urethane. I like HOK vibrant colors and just can’t seem to find any vibrant colors available in water based polyurethane sprayable paints. I have a 5 stage Fuji spray turbine with 1.3mm and 1.8mm nozzles/needles if this helps! Thanks!

[@HighlineGuitars]

You would have to test on scrap first.

[@Shipwreck0316]

Highline Guitars ah gotcha. That’s out since it’s over $100 for a quart of color basecoat and primer. Can’t spend that much and have it not work lol

[@Nickporter17]

I think in a more recent video you explained thinning with distilled water can speed up the curing so you recommend using retarder instead. Did I understand that right?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Thinning with water can alter the chemistry of the product and affect it's final cured hardness. Using the retarder slows the drying process for better flow out without altering the hardness.

[@Nickporter17]

@@HighlineGuitars oh yeah you pointed out that thinning with water creates runs. Thanks so much for the explanation! Going with the extender for sure!!! 🤙

[@brianpetersen3429]

Very helpful tips.

[@basstone7121]

What about using a lvlp gun. Does that change the info on this video

[@tabithakiser7349]

What size tip would be used on your spray gun with the crystalac?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I typically use a 1mm needle. I have also used a .8mm needle without any issues.

[@SP-uo2dx]

Great info.

[@larssjogren6390]

Is it possible to do sunburst with this waterbased coating?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Yes, it's no different than any other paint technique.

[@darylburke4575]

What would you recommend thinning ratio for crystalac instrument finish

[@HighlineGuitars]

I use a maximum of 4% Crystalac Viscosity Reducer to thin the Brite Tone.

[@ancientmartianunderground6413]

11:00 Wisdom on viscosity Gamechanger

[@GlennPeoples]

You recommend HPLV rather the LPLV? Is that just because LPLV is less common?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Yes. Really good LVLP guns are still very expensive. The cheap ones out there are few and not very good.

[@richardhouse7997]

Highline Guitars now I'm confused. On April 7 2017 you recommend a lvlp sprayit and give good marks.

[@IPushHard]

Yeah, I just watched that vid 10 mins ago. Confused! 0_0

[@jeremyb6013]

Do you take back your statement about the lvlp spray gun kit you recommended last year?

[@basstone7121]

I just bought the same gun based on the video as well? Loved the info on the video. Gonna take my first shot at spraying clear coat soon

[@migueldominguez7162]

i had the same problem with the orange pealing and all i did was add bit air pressor on my gun.

[@loralynbender1806]

I was wishing that you sprayed the guitar for us!