Has anyone ever seen a Veracity in a standard veneer and finish?
The premium finishes of course look amazing. Just wondered if any have been made in a standard finish and if anyone has pics.
My HT3s have an upgraded veneer and solid wood baffle, but the standard satin finish. With Jim's current sprayed, catalyzed lacquer finish, the difference between standard and upgraded finishes is the amount of hand rubbing, which affects how glossy the surface becomes. (While some gloss can really bring out the depth and character of the wood, too much gloss starts to make me think I'm looking at plastic!)
If you order an upgraded solid wood baffle, but requested the standard finish, Jim will still tend to rub out the baffle a bit to hilight the grain. (If you order upgraded veneers or wood baffles, Jim typcially just charges you for the difference in the market price of the upgraded materials - there is no additional labor involved. The wood for my baffle was purchased from an eBay auction!)
Be aware, however, that Jim just transitioned to a
new finishing system. The materials for the new system are more expensive, but save a great deal of labor. Part of his forthcoming
price increase is to account for the new finishing material cost. The new system will allow any level of sheen, as per a PM from Jim, quoted here in consolidated form:
Any level of sheen desired. Finishes are available in 20 (flat), 40, 60, 80 and 100, and you can mix for values in between. In addition, there are toners that can add transparent color to the mix as well.
For the test run, we added a mixure of red and brown to create a rose color and tinted just before the final sealer coats. Then gloss 100 was applied Friday and we will be able to rub it out on Monday (rather than waiting 10 days or more for lacquer to cure).
[The new finish is] as clear or clearer than any finish currently available and will not yellow. They are also much harder than lacquer and virtually waterproof. They are very difficult to scratch.
Any help?