Posted on September 3, 2026September 3, 2026 by Dale Phillips It Worked for Me: Spray Can Tongs It Worked for Me: Spray Can Tongs by Michael Turko Originally published in American Lutherie #86, 2006 Every time I would use spray adhesive on a small part, such as gluing a paper pattern onto a template, I would get sticky goo from the overspray all over my hand, wrist, and forearm. Yuck! So I looked around my shop and found a set of kitchen tongs I picked up years ago at a yard sale. Now I hold the part with the tongs when I need to spray it with adhesive. And I keep the tongs attached to the can of spray glue with a big rubber band so that when I need it, it’s right there. ◆ Photo by Michael Turko.
Posted on July 7, 2024May 14, 2025 by Dale Phillips The Case For KTM The Case For KTM by Michael Turko Originally published in American Lutherie #72, 2002 For ten years now I have been building custom guitars, and I have been using KTM waterborne lacquer as my only finish coat for most of that time. I believe it is an excellent choice for the small custom builder for a variety of reasons. ▶ There is no offensive odor or noxious fumes to create problems in residential neighborhoods. ▶ It may be applied by hand without sprayers or other specialized equipment. ▶ It dries extremely fast, and may be buffed to a high gloss within hours (or less) instead of days. ▶ It builds much faster than solvent-based lacquers, and many coats can be applied on the same day. ▶ No special pore or grain fillers are required. ▶ It dries absolutely clear without adding any tint or shade of its own (although tinting maybe added if desired). Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of the Articles Online featured on our website for Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. Members also receive 3 annual issues of American Lutherie and get discounts on products. For details, visit the membership page. MEMBERS: login for access or contact us to setup your account.
