Hello folks,
I just wanted to share a finish I am using now.
I used in the past on my cues PPG finish, then once my divorce cleared and I was able to set my shop again after not being able to make cues for 2 years, I went to UV finish since I could not spray anymore. I did a batch of 8 or 9 cues and I was using Solarez with their sealer and gloss finish and also using the Solacure lamps.
The problem with Solarez was the smell and I couldn't achieve the finish that my cues were famous for when I use PPG auto clear. On top of that I received like 4 different batches of Solarez that was contaminated with a white powder. My cues after being wet sanded looked like there was maple dust on them (I have a air dust filter running next to my finish station). I gave up on Solarez even after I complained and got a call from the Solarez owner sending my money back and more gloss "filtered" finish so he said...
I started my journey looking for alternatives until I came across the company Crystalac and their amazing finish Brite-Tone which is used by guitar, banjo, flute and other instrument makers.
As some of you know, guitars take quite a beating so I thought I would give these guys a try, specially after I talked to a few guitar luthiers using the product.
I have finish about 5 cues now and I am using the their Clear Wood Grain Filler (awesome to cover pores on burl woods), Wood Sealer (by far the best sealer I have ever used) and the Brite-Tone for the finish.
I know that for cuemakers their finish is kind of a secret but I have seen cuemakers getting sick and dying from the finish being used. Not only this finish can be brushed on but I am spraying with a $36.95 HVLP gun from HF (using a 0.8mm needle, Crystalac recommends a 1mm) and I start wet sanding at 1000 grit, I might use 800 if I see a couple runs on the finish. You can recoat every 2 hours and you do need like 6 to 8 coats of this finish on the cues, the finish does not leave any type of haze when dry, it is crystal clear.
If you care about your health and not having a stinky shop when you lay finish on your cues you might want to give this a try.
The only chemical you need to clean your spray gun and your gloves is something called H2O (water) :thumbup:
Like with any other finish there is a learning curve but the finish flows extremely well. I like to leave the cue spin slowly for a good 10/15 minutes before I hang it and I get no runs on the finish.
You can contact David Sheppard at 423-218-8561, super nice people that will go the extra mile to make you happy.
I am not the best person to talk about the chemical composition but the finish is hard, does not yellow and flows better than a lot of auto-clears that I have used in the past, keep in mind that you will need to lay more coats because the flash recoat time is 2 hours, don't try to spray or brush again every 15 minutes because it will be a recipe for disaster. Be patient and the results will be awesome.
Also this finish it's only one part, no need to mix it with any other crazy chemical.
David from Crystalac might chime in on this thread. I can only talk about my personal experience with the finish if anybody has any questions.
Here is a link to their store:
https://thecrystalacstore.com/products/brite-tone-instrument-finish (I buy the gallon, which is a lot cheaper)
More info on the finish here:
http://www.crystalac.info/musical-instruments.html
Since I was the first cuemaker (to their knowledge) using this finish, David authorized me to post a 10% discount and free shipping on CONUS for aybody that mentions my name Tony to him, David Sheppard and Crystalac can be reached at 423-218-8561
I just wanted to share a finish I am using now.
I used in the past on my cues PPG finish, then once my divorce cleared and I was able to set my shop again after not being able to make cues for 2 years, I went to UV finish since I could not spray anymore. I did a batch of 8 or 9 cues and I was using Solarez with their sealer and gloss finish and also using the Solacure lamps.
The problem with Solarez was the smell and I couldn't achieve the finish that my cues were famous for when I use PPG auto clear. On top of that I received like 4 different batches of Solarez that was contaminated with a white powder. My cues after being wet sanded looked like there was maple dust on them (I have a air dust filter running next to my finish station). I gave up on Solarez even after I complained and got a call from the Solarez owner sending my money back and more gloss "filtered" finish so he said...
I started my journey looking for alternatives until I came across the company Crystalac and their amazing finish Brite-Tone which is used by guitar, banjo, flute and other instrument makers.
As some of you know, guitars take quite a beating so I thought I would give these guys a try, specially after I talked to a few guitar luthiers using the product.
I have finish about 5 cues now and I am using the their Clear Wood Grain Filler (awesome to cover pores on burl woods), Wood Sealer (by far the best sealer I have ever used) and the Brite-Tone for the finish.
I know that for cuemakers their finish is kind of a secret but I have seen cuemakers getting sick and dying from the finish being used. Not only this finish can be brushed on but I am spraying with a $36.95 HVLP gun from HF (using a 0.8mm needle, Crystalac recommends a 1mm) and I start wet sanding at 1000 grit, I might use 800 if I see a couple runs on the finish. You can recoat every 2 hours and you do need like 6 to 8 coats of this finish on the cues, the finish does not leave any type of haze when dry, it is crystal clear.
If you care about your health and not having a stinky shop when you lay finish on your cues you might want to give this a try.
The only chemical you need to clean your spray gun and your gloves is something called H2O (water) :thumbup:
Like with any other finish there is a learning curve but the finish flows extremely well. I like to leave the cue spin slowly for a good 10/15 minutes before I hang it and I get no runs on the finish.
You can contact David Sheppard at 423-218-8561, super nice people that will go the extra mile to make you happy.
I am not the best person to talk about the chemical composition but the finish is hard, does not yellow and flows better than a lot of auto-clears that I have used in the past, keep in mind that you will need to lay more coats because the flash recoat time is 2 hours, don't try to spray or brush again every 15 minutes because it will be a recipe for disaster. Be patient and the results will be awesome.
Also this finish it's only one part, no need to mix it with any other crazy chemical.
David from Crystalac might chime in on this thread. I can only talk about my personal experience with the finish if anybody has any questions.
Here is a link to their store:
https://thecrystalacstore.com/products/brite-tone-instrument-finish (I buy the gallon, which is a lot cheaper)
More info on the finish here:
http://www.crystalac.info/musical-instruments.html
Since I was the first cuemaker (to their knowledge) using this finish, David authorized me to post a 10% discount and free shipping on CONUS for aybody that mentions my name Tony to him, David Sheppard and Crystalac can be reached at 423-218-8561
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