Originally Posted by
george wilson
What do you mean"The finish cannot chip,crack,or dent"? Is it made of armor plate?
It is getting harder and harder to get any varnish that is not Polyurethane. While I'll certainly agree that PU is a durable finish,I cannot use it for rubbing. I wish a larger variety of varnishes would continue to be available. I don't even know how much longer I'll be avle to get nitrocellulose lacquer. It is the traditional guitar finish,and is a prettier lacquer than acrylic,which has a cold look about it. This being because it has a resin base that is blue. Nitro has a yellow resin base. And seems to refract light differently.
1. There are a number of varnish products produced for the marine industry. Some are of so-so quality, but there are several quite respectable brands. I can report good results in my work with Epifanes and with Petit Z-Spar Captain's (or Flagship) Varnish. The first is a bit harder and scratch resistant; the second is more resilient and has better impact resistance. Choose based on the property you need. Source at a local marine supply or at Defender Industries by mail-order.
2. I've had very good results getting the hardness and durability of polyurethane finishes with a fine hand rubbed look by applying a resin varnish (see 1., above) and rubbing it out in normal fashion. Works as you would wish. I'd suggest at least two coats of varnish before rubbing to make sure you have enough film thickness to avoid going through to the PU surface. These varnish coatings add warmer color to the PU that I like. You'll have to judge for yourself.
Sorry to say I can't help you with the nitrocellulose lacquer.
Fair winds and following seas,
Jim Waldron