Nitro lack aging and cracking
- Thread starter harjta80
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The best way is to keep and regularly use the guitar for 50 years.
Some folks stick it in a freezer or leave it outside in sub-zero temps overnight and then hit it with a blowdryer or stick it in the oven, and other ways of varying the temperature from one extreme to the other quickly.
I would never do any of those things to my guitars,
On the temp thing, the most common seem to be making the axe very cold and them heating it quickly, as opposed to the other way around (making it hot and cooling it fast)
Bill Hicklin
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Remember, many modern nitro finishes include plasticizers which prevent it cracking, so you may never get that vintage look.
You can try, though. As skyjerk says, the way to force it is to put it in the freezer (hardware off and wrapped up, please!) for a while, then immediately expose it to very warm air like a hair dryer, sun lamp or just outside on a hot day. The cold makes the finish brittle and the guitar shrink slightly, then the sudden temperature change causes it to expand against the brittle lacquer.
I wouldn't use an oven unless you have one that can be reliably held to 100 degrees or less, and a heat gun can bubble your finish, not just crack it.
You can try, though. As skyjerk says, the way to force it is to put it in the freezer (hardware off and wrapped up, please!) for a while, then immediately expose it to very warm air like a hair dryer, sun lamp or just outside on a hot day. The cold makes the finish brittle and the guitar shrink slightly, then the sudden temperature change causes it to expand against the brittle lacquer.
I wouldn't use an oven unless you have one that can be reliably held to 100 degrees or less, and a heat gun can bubble your finish, not just crack it.
