Boston NC-520-OWH Nitrocellulose Lacquer Aerosol 500ml (Olympic White)

General

This 500 millilitre can of Boston NC-520 Nitrocellulose Lacquer can be used to finish off a self-build electric guitar or bass, or spruce up an old model with a fresh coat of Olympic White lacquer. Nitrocellulose lacquer has been used since the fifties and sixties and is still used today to add a throwback touch to vintage-style instruments. Since it applies such a thin layer, the resonant properties of the wood is retained and over the years, the instrument only gains character as the lacquer takes on a natural tint and checking and cracking occurs.

Boston NC-520 Lacquer: Safety First

Boston Nitrocellulose lacquer should only be applied in a well ventilated room where the temperature is no lower than 15°C and only when you're wearing the right gear. So, you'll need a good pair of protective gloves, some old clothes, safety glasses and a face mask. You might also want to clear out or cover anything else in the room that you don't want to get spattered with lacquer. Once done, the can be held upside down and sprayed until only air is emitted. Then you can store the can to use it again later.

How To Apply Lacquer

Start by holding the can upside down and shaking it for a coupled of minutes before testing out a light layer of lacquer on a spare piece of wood. Wipe the body of your guitar of bass down to get rid of any dust or grease, making sure that the surface is clean and dry. Now, hold the nozzle around 20 centimetres away from the wood before spraying and release the nozzle to change direction before spraying again. Once the first thin coat has been applied, allow it to dry for ten minutes before applying the next coat. Note that nitrocellulose lacquer will require a few days of drying time to fully harden.