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My Mohawk vinyl sealer is at least 5 years old.

I poured some into a jar to see if anything looked weird.

There are a couple small solid chunks of stuff like you can see at the bottom but they'll strain out. Everything is evenly mixed but is it usually this milky?

Thanks
Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

I've had it happen before... the solids settled to the bottom and hardened to a state where they couldn't be mixed up again

I think it does go bad. I use Sherwin Williams lacquer and sealer. I recently had an experience where I used a coat of about 2 year old vinyl sealer ( a gallon goes a long way and it's hard to use up ). Vinyl sealer lacks clarity to begin with, but in this case after the topcoats were applied I think the sealer had a dulling effect on the whole finish. Finishes are enough humbug that I don't think it's a good idea to use a questionable chemical that may or may not cause further problems. Unfortunately the lacquer topcoats that I get are only available in 5 gallon cans from SW, and I've had problems using that up before it goes bad too. Storing it into smaller containers with less air inside helps a bit. I had some older Cardinal lacquer go a pretty purple color in the gallon can. That was weird!

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“ The meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away” Pablo Picasso

yes it does spoil

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I "self seal" with the same lacquer I top coat with. It takes a few more coats, but I think the final finish has more clarity. I pore fill with epoxy and haven't seen any adhesion issues with the mohawk lacquer I am using. If I were spraying an oil based stain on the wood before top coating a vinyl sealer in between might be a plus. For what I'm doing I don't need the barrier coat, quick build, and sandability that vinyl sealers provide (and I certainly don't need the "dulling" effect they have on the finish).

I let it settle out & this is what it looks like.

Then I called my local Woodcraft and got lucky. They had one quart on clearance which I got for $9.00

Apparently they're not carrying quarts anymore so if they have any, they're 50% off. It looks like they're also getting all of the Solar Lux dyes in the Behlen labeled bottles off the shelf and replacing them with Mohawk labeled bottles - exact same stuff, 50% off.

Thanks for the replies.

_________________
I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.