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Stripping the Lacquer...



 
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Bryant Jordan
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 12:00 pm    Post subject: Stripping the Lacquer... Reply with quote

Hi everyone. I have a Yamaha 8310z in yellow lacquer that I absolutely love. There is some lacquer wear around the valve casing and on the tuning slide (from the previous owner). I love raw brass horns (I've tried a lot like the 8310z) and have decided to strip the lacquer on the horn. I've talked to a few of my buddies with some experience, and have decided on the boiling water method. I know the affects of stripping the horn (resale value, etc.) and am asking if anyone has any suggestions on how I go about the lacquer removal. Anything at all is appreciated. Thanks and happy playing!
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Don Herman rev2
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Boiling water is generally ineffective on modern lacquers. The lacquers now are more durable and the chemicals used to remove them now are stronger and generally more toxic, like aircraft/marine paint strippers or epoxy removers. If you do it yourself, make sure there is plenty of ventilation, and don't let the chemicals go down the drain.

If you love the way it plays now, I would get the lacquer touched up. Stripping can change the way the horn "feels".

HTH - Don
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21trumpet
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 3:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I used just paint / epoxy stripper from Home Depot. Worked great but make sure you have a well ventilated area and clean the horn well after (as previous stated). I tried not to get any stripper down any of the pipes.
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JoeLoeffler
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 4:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Go with aircraft paint remover from the auto repair store of your choice. Hot water will not do anything to Yamaha “lacquer” unless you don’t want it to. The aircraft strip should do a very nice job. Sometimes it takes 2 or three applications in some areas to get it all off. Paint it on with a cheap “chip brush” and let it sit for 20 minutes or so and rinse/scrub with water. You probably will not need to use scotchbrite to scour the finish like many of the directions say. I have used a coarse cotton cloth like muslin or a tightly woven cheesecloth (#90) to wipe the surface to get the stuff off. **Do not let it dry on the surface — it is a big pain to get it off when dry** Wear gloves and be careful when applying to not get any on you. It burns a lot. It will melt through nitrile gloves. Wear two layers and be quick and careful and you should be fine.
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yourbrass
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I offer a contrary view: Don't do it. It will look like sh@t most likely, and then, even if you are successful at getting all of it off, you'll have a large polishing job to even out the metal's appearance. And yes, resale value is greatly decreased.

If there are small areas of lacquer missing, they can be cleaned up and oversprayed with lacquer by a repair person.

My 2p.

-Lionel
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johnwhite
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PostPosted: Wed May 12, 2021 2:55 am    Post subject: strip lacquer Reply with quote

I have started stripping a Bundy cornet with a bunch of lacquer ware. Stripper wasn't doing much so I search T.H. for other ideas. Found a post about using oven cleaner. I had some stuff that I clean model airplane engines with, Dawn power dissolver used for cookie sheets and the like. Lifts the lacquer fast.
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OldSchoolEuph
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PostPosted: Wed May 12, 2021 8:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would echo the "don't do it" sentiment.

Most strippers are fairly acidic. You can do irreparable damage to the brass pretty quick if you are not careful. This is a job for people with expertise and experience.

If you want to learn, buy parts-only student junk on EBay and practice a lot on that first.
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wiemelen
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PostPosted: Thu May 13, 2021 1:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I used the boiling water method to remove the lacquer of my Yamaha 6335H.
Worked pretty good, although it took some several baths.
I was able to remove almost all lacquer.
The few remaining tiny bits could also be removed, but they look pretty good as a bit of contrast on the patina of the raw brass.
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OldSchoolEuph
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PostPosted: Thu May 13, 2021 1:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

wiemelen wrote:
I used the boiling water method to remove the lacquer of my Yamaha 6335H.
Worked pretty good, although it took some several baths.
I was able to remove almost all lacquer.
The few remaining tiny bits could also be removed, but they look pretty good as a bit of contrast on the patina of the raw brass.


Wow, that shouldn't have worked. Yamaha didn't use nitrocellulose lacquer.
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2017 Austin Winds Stage 466
1962 Mt. Vernon Bach 43
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1975 Yamaha YEP-321 Custom
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1975 Olds Recording R-20
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wiemelen
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PostPosted: Thu May 13, 2021 2:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

OldSchoolEuph wrote:
wiemelen wrote:
I used the boiling water method to remove the lacquer of my Yamaha 6335H.
Worked pretty good, although it took some several baths.
I was able to remove almost all lacquer.
The few remaining tiny bits could also be removed, but they look pretty good as a bit of contrast on the patina of the raw brass.


Wow, that shouldn't have worked. Yamaha didn't use nitrocellulose lacquer.

The instrument was built in 1989 or 1990, so I don't know if Yamaha is still using the same kind of lacquer.
I remember the lacquer came of pretty easy.
But not as easy as removing lacquer from my 1973 Selmer Radial 99B where the lacquer just bursted of the instrument when hit with the boiling water.
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PMonteiro
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PostPosted: Thu May 13, 2021 5:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A couple of years ago I took some very hot tap water and a Brillo pad to my Blessing. The end result looked quite good, although I suspect it just polished the lacquer more than stripping it. I only did it because the original lacquer was deeply pitted and there wasn't much to lose by taking the risk. I'm not sure it's worth the risk of a DIY stripping just because it has "some" lacquer wear. I would suggest testing it on a small part, such as the 2nd valve slide before going to town on the whole horn.
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improver
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PostPosted: Thu May 13, 2021 5:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Run it thru a couple cycles of the dishwasher and it comes right off.
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