It Worked for Me: Breathing Air Systems

by Gary Hopkins

Originally published in American Lutherie #112, 2012



From what I have read, the majority of guitar buyers prefer a nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Average relative humidity here in Florida is 70%–80% year around. The recommended maximum relative humidity for spraying lacquer is 65%, so times when you could spray lacquer in nonconditioned air would be greatly limited. But spraying lacquer indoors creates additional problems including health hazards from inhaled fumes. So what is the safest way to spray?

I started building guitars after a long career in mechanism design engineering with the Space Shuttle program. When working with hazardous gases at Kennedy Space Center, we always used breathing air systems, so when it came time to set up my small shop, my first thought was to set up an inexpensive air system and not have to use air filters at all. Perhaps one day waterborne lacquer will be improved to the point that we will no longer need to be concerned about these health hazards.