Where to buy Seagrave (formerly McFadden's) lacquer? - created 02-24-2011

Rhoney, Paul - 02/24/2011.12:28:51
Proud recipient of the American Dream.

I was just curious where you guys were buying Seagrave lacquers from these days. I know I can get it from Stew-Mac, but are there other places I should look at? Just trying to find the best deal is all. Thanks!

King, David - 02/24/2011.18:11:50
often headless

Paul try Grizzly,

http://www.grizzly.com/outlet/McFadden-s-Lacquer-Satin-1-qt-/H5753

They seem to be carrying the whole line on the old labels so you might need to call first.

LMII also has it, PN FL32 but it's going to cost you a bit more.

Brackett, Woodrow - 02/25/2011.21:15:53

I'm pretty sure Grizzly only has satin, and when it's gone it's gone. Stew Mac has Seagrave (formerly Mcfadden) lacquer in quarts. LMI has both quarts and gallons. I haven't used any, but have been told it's identical to the old Mcfadden stuff.

Schaeffer, Clay - 02/26/2011.12:15:24

I have started using Mohawk stringed instrument lacquer, because it is available locally (P-E-D dist. Oxford, Pa.) and relatively cheap ($29/gal) Seems to be a pretty standard nitrocellulose lacquer.

Blanton, Nicholas - 02/26/2011.18:58:41

Don't let the price fool you. It's likely still good stuff ( I haven't sprayed any of it for ten years) but the Mohawk lacquer I've seen offered has been pre-reduced for spraying, so you're paying for more lacquer thinner; which is much cheaper than lacquer. There's no mystery as to whether it's been thinned- they almost brag about it, like we should be grateful we don't have to go down to the hardware and buy our own lacquer thinner. I notice Stew-Mac offers Behlen's the same way.I wonder now when the grocery is going to offer pre-peeled bananas....

Brackett, Woodrow - 02/27/2011.19:05:27

Behlens and Mohawk are the same thing. They're both part of RPM Wood Finishing Group (a local company for me). I believe Mcfadden (and probably the new Seagrave) also claim they don't require further thinning. These instructions have as much to do with VOC regulations as they do the actual viscosity of the finish. Adding thinner raises VOC's.

Blanton, Nicholas - 03/02/2011.18:18:14

Thank you, Woodrow, I have checked and though it does seem as though the batch of McFadden's I got last year does not need as much thinning as the old Behlen/Mohawk "high solids" lacquer, it still does need thinning to work in my Croix HVLP gun, so I will take all those instructions with a grain of salt.

I wonder why Behlen still exists as a name...you are right, I recall Mohawk bought them at least 30 years ago, back when I wasn't even sure what a spray gun was and varnished everything.

Schaeffer, Clay - 03/04/2011.08:09:45

" I wonder why Behlen still exists as a name..."

It allows people to prefer one over the other, while buying the same product.