Mosrite finishes over the years...

[Strat-o-rama]

Looking at pictures of Mark1/Ventures models over the years, and noting the various little changes that have occurred as many of you have pointed out, there seems to be little mention of the finishes--not the colors, but what Mosrite/Semie used over time to get his finishes. Some appear very thick and plastic-like...like the Asian made clones, etc...others almost show the texture of the wood grain thru the finish where it appears to have been thin and sunken in over time. Did Semie change his materials over time?...Nitrocellulose to Polyurethane and or Polyester? Did he vary the thicknesses..maybe depending on the finish? Example: a thick finish for Pearl White, but a thin finish for 'bursts?
Could any of you Mosrite Mavens comment? Inquiring Geeks want to know.

[dubtrub]

For the short time I sprayed the clear coats on Mosrites in the summer of 1966, the color coats were painted with lacquer and the clear top coat was a catalyzed polyurethane. The clear was supplied directly from large drums and I was not involved in the mixing process. One thick coat was all that was needed plus it dried fast. I'd say the main reason for it's use was speed of production. I doubt if Semie used any poly finish when he was building on a small scale after the P street factory closed.

[rog43win]

I bought my Mosrite Ventures model new in 1964 or 65, and the literature said it had 12 coats of hand-rubbed lacquer.....it did have a glassy finish, like a mirror......

Roger

[dubtrub]

Lacquer was all that was used prior to '66. I'm not sure when the factory started using the Poly top coat or how long it was used, but from examples I've seen both before and after, most appear to be nitro finished. Please keep in mind my experience with the Mosrite factory was very short lived, so I'm no expert as to the final say of what was used. My opions are just that.

[GattonFan]

That's wild, given the fact that nitro continues to gas off for months, and cat poly cures quickly. It's a wonder there weren't a ton of finish problems with that process.
Dennis

[oipunkguy]

Wow Danny this is news to me. I know all mine semie Mosrites is Nitro, but of course in the 70's he wasn't making guitars in large numbers. any tips for buffing out poly?

[woodchuck30]

Hay Arron, afriend of mine says he buffs it just like nitro. Says he uses auto glazing compound, spray bottle for water and a sheep wool buffing wheel, or by hand. Says it comes out like glass.

[oipunkguy]

hey, yeah I been doing the same thing, more or less. the thing is about poly is it's some much harder, kinda a pain in the butt to buff out. Nitro is sooo much easier.

[mostlyrite]

That's wild, given the fact that nitro continues to gas off for months, and cat poly cures quickly. It's a wonder there weren't a ton of finish problems with that process.
Dennis

The off-gassing of nitrocellulose is highly dependent on thickness and ambient temperature; most of the solvents used are highly volatile.

All types of color coats off-gas at various rates, yet most manufacturers will spray the clearcoat right over the color, as soon as it's dry to the touch, with few issues.

Lastly, Danny, are you sure the color coats in '66 were nitrocellulose? Acrylic lacquer was quite common by '66, having been on the market for a decade, and was commonly used because of faster dry times.