Is primer necessary?

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Mike Kinny
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri May 24, 2019 12:49 pm

Is primer necessary?

Post by Mike Kinny »

Hi,

What is a primer and why is it necessary to apply before lacquer? This is to finish a classical guitar.

Thanks
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Barry Daniels
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Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:58 am
Location: The Woodlands, Texas

Re: Is primer necessary?

Post by Barry Daniels »

No.
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David King
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Location: Portland, OR
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Re: Is primer necessary?

Post by David King »

Unless you need a filler coat, i.e. not a primer but something to fill the open pored grain in certain woods like mahogany, walnut, East Indian Rosewood and many others.
Clay Schaeffer
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Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:04 pm

Re: Is primer necessary?

Post by Clay Schaeffer »

Primer/sealers reduce the number of top coats that need to be applied to obtain a smooth finish. You can "self seal", which is to say spray additional coats of top coat until it fills the pores of the wood.
Some guitar builders use epoxy resins to fill the pores of the wood and top coat over that.
Rodger Knox
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Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:02 pm
Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Re: Is primer necessary?

Post by Rodger Knox »

A primer is a base coat usually employed to improve adhesion between the surface and the top coat. A sealer is similar, but it's purpose is to seal the surface. A pore fill is a little different, it's purpose is to seal the pores in wood that has pores. Primers are not generally used on wood, while pore fill and a seal coat are common under lacquer. Classical guitars traditionally have a French polish finish, which is a hand applied spirit varnish.
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