Welcome Instrument Finishers and Luthiers. This page is designed to go over all you need to know about using CrystaLac products when finishing your instrument. CrystaLac manufactures specialty Stains, Paints, Wood Grain Filler, Sealers, and Top Coats including a High Solids Instrument Top Coat. We’ve got you covered on everything you need. Some key benefits are: Extreme Durability, Self-Leveling, Non-Yellowing, little to no V.O.C., Non-Toxic, and Non-Flammable.
All products by CrystaLac can be incorporated into Instrument Finishing, but here is a focused list that helps narrow it down to the basics. *Technical Data Sheets are available under Product Pages Tab. This is our top-notch, specialty topcoat. Brite Tone is provided in 3 different sheens such as Matte, Satin, or Gloss. The Gloss is known for its mirror like shine. Brite Tone is non-toxic, self-leveling, UV resistant and non-yellowing. It is easy brush or spray application, and has incredible durability along with high solids content. CrystaLac is proud to say that Brite Tone is used on Rockbridge Guitars. Click HERE for Product Info. This product helps to minimize grain raise while also working as a pre-surface conditioner on your surface. The "Amber Toned" enriches the warm tones in the wood grains and enhances the natural wood. Click Here for Product Info This is a clear sealer that also contains a tannin blocker. Click Here for Product Info CrystaLac Wood Grain Filler helps to fill in the pores of the wood and creates a smooth surface. It dries with a milky tint, but becomes clear when top coated. This helps you to see where it has been applied on your piece. It can also be tinted using CrystaLac pigments. Click Here for Product Info These paints have amazing coverage and come in 23 different colors options. They contain a built in primer and a topcoat. For Guitars, it is still recommended to apply Brite Tone Top Coat for extra protection. Click Here for Product Info If you want to fulfill your creative needs, there is an option to create your own custom colors and stains by adding pigments 1-8 into your chosen base. Follow the recipe book at www.craftnique.com for color combinations and guide. These pigments can also be used to tint your topcoat. Click Here for Product Info These stains are non-bleeding and colorfast, unlike your average stains. There are 6 premade colors available. Click Here for Product Info Offered in the options of Red Gloss, Blue Gloss, Yellow Gloss, Black Gloss or Satin, and White Gloss or Satin. Keep in mind you can mix colors together to make a new color. Click Here for Product InfoDesigned for thinning and extending the dry time of CrystaLac Coatings. Enhances spray atomization and improves flow out and leveling. Can be used in most waterbased coatings. Add approximately 1 oz. per Pint by slowly stirring into CrystaLac Paints, Stains or Top Coats. Adding more than 1 oz per pint, will significantly slow the dry time and extra dry time will need to be given between coats. Click Here for Product InfoThis product works great to clean up any fingerprints, oils, or sanding dust between coats. Click Here for Product Info These 5 Basic Principles can be applied to any project you are doing. Remembering these principles will save you a lot of time and questions!
1. PREP (clean, sand, clean) This is the MOST important step. Without proper prep, the product may not adhere correctly. 2. TEMPERATURE (70 degrees and %70 humidity We know this can be hard to achieve. Keep in mind our Reducer Retarder helps slow down dry time to allow the products to self level if your temperatures are affecting the result) 3. APPLICATION (Brush or Spray, when brushing keep in mind to use the dip and drip method with long, even, THIN COATS. When spraying, the product does not need to be thinned out. It is good to go as is!) 4. DRY TIME (3-4 hours is recommended. 3 hours is fine when spraying due to the application being a bit thinner, 4 hours is best for brushing. If your coats are a little thick please allow it more time to dry. The water needs time to evaporate out, if it appears dry to touch, that doesn't mean it is dry. It dries from the outside in and if water doesn't have time to evaporate, then it can look hazy where it is trapped in. CrystaLac does not burn into the previous coat! Have patience here.) 5. CURE TIME (30 day cure time is best to fully harden and ready for a good pickin') |
CrystaLac Brite Tone Matte and Satin Finished Instrument 1. Always stir these really well to even the sheen throughout the product before applying. 2. It helps tremendously to start with Gloss on your first coats and only do your Satin or Matte on the last 2-3 coats. This is to provide the best clarity of your topcoat. Level Sanding / Wet Sanding
When is it okay to Level Sand? It is not necessary to level sand as Brite Tone contains self-leveling agents. However, sometimes the user may have preference of level sanding every so many coats. If decided to do so, wait 1 day/coat. For example, if you have 6 coats of Brite Tone on, wait 6 days before level sanding. This is because the top coat needs time to harden up first. An average amount of coats before level-sanding is around 4-6 coats. Can you Wet Sand a Water Based Top Coat? We always recommend dry sanding rather then wet sanding for best results. This is because many factors can skew the results of wet sanding and can cause adhering issues. If decided to wet sand, make sure to allow minimum 2-3 days/coat of cure time. Example, if you have 8 coats of Brite Tone on, wait minimum 16-24 days / coat before wet sanding. This is because when reintroducing water to a water based product, it rewets the top coat and can cause it to soften if it is not fully cured yet. The goal is to make sure the top coat has cured/hardened, the longer you wait the better. For best results, wait the full 30 day recommended cure/harden time. Patience is key. ![]() The CrystaLac Store offers the perfect product combination in a kit to help you get started.
This Instrument Finishing Kit includes: 1 Pint of Brite Tone (Gloss) 1 8 oz Sanding Sealer 1 8 oz Wood Grain Filler ![]() This Kit is designed to allow you to hand rub on your finish. It has everything you need to achieve what appears as an oil rubbed finish but that is more durable and does not get gummy over time.
The Hand Rubbed Finish Kit includes: 1 Pint of Brite Tone Matte Top Coat 4 oz Reducer /Retarder4 oz Warm Tone Dye 1 Sanding Pad 800 grit *Check out the description in the store for tips of use. |
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