Just a heads up

[living room rocker]

I saw a post on Facebook from my local luthier. He was warning guitar players from applying bug spray containing Deet and then handling guitars with a nitrocellulose finish. He said it will "melt" into the finish and he see's it every summer.

 

[donepearce]

Thanks. My guitars will just have to take their chances with the mozzies.

 

[living room rocker]

 

[living room rocker]

He included all guitars but said especially nitrocellulose finishes. He claimed the pics above were "minor damage" compared to what he's seen.

 

[Go Nigel Go]

It's probably not so much the DEET itself (though it could be that too), but the solvent that makes it sprayable doing the damage. Many things contain solvents to keep them flowable, and sptays are almost impossible to make without a powerful solvent to aid in dispersion into a fine mist. Solvents and fine finishes will and in tears most of the time, so whatever the liquid, if it has a strong and immediate chemical smell I would assume it contains a solvent until I got a chance to read the ingredients.

 

[Decadent Dan]

Even the deet-free stuff is basically 30% lemon eucalyptus oil mixed with other ingredients (alcohol etc).

 

[3bolt79]

F-1 Polish, Gerlitz Smudge Off, and Gibson brand are safe for Nitro and Poly.

 

[Decadent Dan]

F-1 Polish, Gerlitz Smudge Off, and Gibson brand are safe for Nitro and Poly.

I thought this was about bug repellent

 

[3bolt79]

Sorry, I thought we had moved on to solvents. And it’s way past 4:20.

 

[Decadent Dan]

Sorry, I thought we had moved on to solvents. And it’s way past 4:20.

 

[Igonuts]

Ouch!
Actually good to know for this o'le fart. Live in the sticks of west Ken*ucky. Near the Missip. All alone. Save deer, cyote, and skeeters.

Gonna file that bit of advice. Right next to the chili cheese Fritos n cheese puffs. Not a joke.

Ty living room rocker.

 

[Igonuts]

View attachment 48204

That reminds me of the deet tainted pot outta mexico scare back in the '70s

 

[Decadent Dan]

That reminds me of the deet tainted pot outta mexico scare back in the '70s
I thought it was Paraquat.

 

[Igonuts]

Ah, yup. My bad.

Your leafy smile made me smile.

 

[Bad Penguin]

 

[MR D]

That reminds me of the deet tainted pot outta mexico scare back in the '70s
I thought it was Paraquat.

Yeah Man, that paraquat $#!T was NASTY !

 

[Von Trapp]

Why would you want to spray your guitar with bug repellant?

 

[DrBGood]

Why would you want to spray your guitar with bug repellant?

To see what would happen ?

 

[living room rocker]

Why would you want to spray your guitar with bug repellant?

I don't think the luthier was talking about direct application to one's guitar. He was warning of applying repellent to arms, face, hands, etc and not paying attention to residues spreading to the guitar's finish.

 

[Von Trapp]

Who knew!