Nitro color without clear coat? Daphne Blue. FINISHED - WiTH PICS.

[DB]

I've got a fun little Daphne Blue project in the works (more on this later). 

I've put on some of the intial color coats on using ReRanch (nice stuff!).  With dry sanding in between with 600 grit, I'm getting a really nice satin like finish, and I assume this would get nicer with finer sandpaper and wet sanding.  Anyone have any thoughts on skipping the clear coats?  I know I won't get the deep shine, but this would save me time and quite a bit of work.  The total project will be $125-$150, so saving time and effort is definitely a consideration. 

It's just a fun little project, not a masterpiece.  For those curious, it is a short scale Jazz Bass inspired project that I'll string up strangely (maybe E, B, A, A octave) for slide bass (inspired by Mark Sandman of Morphine).

DB

P.S.  The dry climate in Colorado is working out well, as the nitro dries quickly and can be dry sanded 24 hours later!

[jetset]

I skipped the clearcoat on my 3 pu Jaguar in surf green. I was worried that it would end up greening over time and I didn't want it any greener than it is.  I think back in the day Fender occasionally did custom colors with no clear.  I've seen pics of Olympic white Strats that have none and are almost as white as the day they were sprayed.  It's the clear coats that go all yellowy green.

You can still get quite a nice shine if you really wet sand and buff it well.
-J

[Stereordinary]

I can't see any reason why you can't do it.  It'd just be a stylistic/aesthetic choice.  I think it would probably wear well too.  You would get to those under coats faster. 

[DB]

Hey guys, thanks for the input.  I thought I had heard about Olympic White sometimes not being clear coated.  I'm usually a fan of glassy finishes, but like the results I'm getting so far with the satin look.  The finish seems pretty tough so far, as I had to get a bit aggressive on one minor run, but still didn't go all the way through the color coat.  I'll experiment buffing it out but may stop short of the ultimate sheen and go for something different.

DB

[Stereordinary]

[Regan]

I am seriously thinking about leaving the clear off my Olympic White Jag. As noted, Fender did this back in the day. I have seen recent pics of original Jags made back as far as 1962 that are still very, very, white. They look good to me. I have a faded white Strat. I bought it brand new in 1980 and it did not stay white very long.

Before I actually started my Jaguar refinish I beat my brains in trying to decide if I wanted to clearcaot or not. I am having to work around the weather, and that's not easy in December at this place, but when I get a few more coats of O.W. on I am going to let it cure without the clear. Then I am going to wetsand, polish and evaluate the outcome. If it looks great, I will leave it. If it don't look satisfactory, I can always shoot the clear later.

Regan

[DB]

I am seriously thinking about leaving the clear off my Olympic White Jag....
.... Then I am going to wetsand, polish and evaluate the outcome. If it looks great, I will leave it. If it don't look satisfactory, I can always shoot the clear later.

Regan

Exactly what I'm thinking.  Try it for a while, and if I don't like it I can always touch up the color coat and add the clear.  Jetset's longneck Jag looks great I think, and from his photos I would have thought it was a pro finish.  I can only hope I do as well.

DB

[DB]

DB

[Stereordinary]

A tecnique for scraping out runs in the finish.  Sorry, I should have explained it, I was being lazy.  That's Scotch tape on the sides of the razor.

[fuzzking]

A tecnique for scraping out runs in the finish.  Sorry, I should have explained it, I was being lazy.  That's Scotch tape on the sides of the razor.

I was wondering what the scotch tape is good for (in case you're no too lazy to explain)?

[Stereordinary]

It protects the finish around the run.    Now I'm gonna get a reputation for being lazy! 

Here's the full details.

[Stereordinary]

By the way, I think theworkoffire has linked to this same page previously.  In another thread elsewhere on this forum.  I want to say that's how first came about it.

[fuzzking]

Thanks! That seems like a pretty good technique... might come in handy someday!

[DB]

Thanks Stereo, I get it now.

DB

[DB]

Luckily I got the run out by just dropping back to a new piece of 400 grit sandpaper, but that razor trick looks pretty cool.  I've got to tell you guys, this ReRanch nitro really goes on nicely and smooths down pretty nicely as it dries.  I'm having fun!

DB