Laquer question...

trumpetplayer87 · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 5:05 pm Post subject:

I'm trying to work between this forum for advice pertaining to trumpet finishes, and the airbrushing forum for details about airbrushing hard, contoured surfaces (a trumpet).

If one plans to relaquer a horn, what is the best method for removing old laquer?
What types of laquer (clear or colored) are used for relaquering?

Thanks,

Bonnie

Welk · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 6:01 pm Post subject:

A kid in cadet have once give a bath to his horn. The bath was really hot, almost boiling. He didn't know too much about instrument care. When he camed back after an hour, the lacquer was gone and was floating in the water. HE got really yellled at for doing this.

I coudn't tell if all the laquered has gone... but it may be a way to do it. I would do that, but it seem to have worked... when it wasn't suppose to arrive willingly,
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elbobogrande · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 6:23 pm Post subject:

I've heard that a trip through the dishwasher (no soap) will strip the lacquer rather handily.
John
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"What? You mean to tell me that Rimsky and Korsakov were both named Nicolai?"

jhatpro · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 7:12 pm Post subject:

I've tried a bunch of strippers (as well as the dishwasher approach) and the best way I've found to remove lacquer is Cold Stripper from http://www.ferreestools.com

Remove the valves and carefully set them on end on a shelf where they won't get knocked over. Put on some rubber gloves and brush the stripper on the horn. Let it bubble up for a few minutes, then plunge the horn into a tub of cold water. Most of the lacquer will float right off, although it may be necessary to repeat the process in cases where stubborn patches remain.

Dry the horn with an old towel. Leave it natural if you like the look, or polish with your favorite metal polish. I like Billet Motorycle polish. It's used to get bikes ready to show, and won't harm the finish.

Eventually, oxydation will turn the horn a nice dark brass color. Or you can polish it every few months if you like a bright look. If you're hands are exceptionally acidic, you may want to get a leather guard for the valve casings or your hands will turn green.

Some players become concerned about brass poisoning, but I've yet to find evidence that merely holding a raw brass horn is dangerous. I have heard some pretty horrifying stories about the results of playing on raw brass mouthpieces, however. (Some players like the feel, believe it or not.) In a word, "don't."
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Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

jhaysom · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2003 8:52 am Post subject:

I boiled my King Silvertone cornet in the biggest pot my mother-in-law had, with the valves remove of course. Just took a little brushing in the crevises with an old toothbrush to finish the job.

It took a little explaining to my mother-in-law though.
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John Haysom
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
Yamaha 8310ZS trumpet
Yamaha 6310ZS trumpet
Courtois flugel
1941 King Silvertone cornet
1941 King 2B valve trombone
Kanstul 920 piccolo
etc.

oneeyedhobbit · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2003 9:46 am Post subject:

Unless one wants a raw brass horn, I'm really not sure why so many people insist on a "do-it-yourself" lacquer removal, most shops charge about the same weather or not they take off the lacquer, in my experience.

bgwbold · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2003 10:17 am Post subject:

Well, my repair guy did not like to work with caustic chemicals, and just would not do stripping. If you want it done, you have to do it yourself.

Mike

Bowtie_SBC · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2003 11:10 am Post subject:

All this talk about boiling a trumpet to remove the lacquer. Don't the soldered joints and braces come off with all the heat??? Or atleast loosen them up?
I was always told when performing regular cleaning inside of a trumpet, never use water hotter than luke warm, to prevent problems with the solder.
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Sam Dunford
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Conn Connstellation 38B
Jupiter Tribune
Jupiter 846S Flugelhorn

_Don Herman · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2003 11:36 am Post subject:

Sam,

Solder melts at roughly twice the temperature of boiling water. I have heard numerous horror stories about lacquer shredding off with boiling water -- depends on the type of lacquer. Some will, some won't. I think the problem with joints is that the temperature coefficient of expansion is different for solder and brass, so stress is created during thermal cycling. This can cause things to pop loose, especially if the horn is just dumped into boiling water. Probably better to raise the temperature gradually.

Oh, dumping ice water over it at the end to cool it down fast probably isn't a real good idea either...

HTH - Don
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Don Herman/Monument, CO
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music." - Aldous Huxley

TimBrown · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2003 12:37 pm Post subject:

For what it's worth, I'm doing the hot water trick on the Fischer cornet I got today. I've been pouring boiling water over it and so far it is working...I have it in the sink...nothing big enough to put it in on the stove.

Nothing popping yet...

wait..

ohoh..

kidding!

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WaxHaX0rS · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Jul 2003 Posts: 524

I have an old TR300 that my dad picked up cheap from ebay that I used to use for rehearsal at my school. It had much of the laquer missing. Rehearsal was right before lunch and everyday my hands would be green after rehearsal, hah.

TimBrown · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2003 1:46 pm Post subject:

Bonnie:

My horn is done...and it went fine. The only issue was lacquer that didn't come off and left a film but it wiped off with a plastic mesh pad and no scratches that I can see. Again, I didn't keep mine on the stove...but put it in the sink with boiling water...adding two more doses to keep it hot. THen i just let it sit.

Tim
_________________
Getzen 900 DLX
Kanstul Meha .470
L.A. Benge 3x+ 9879
1912 Holton New Proportion cornet
Kanstul CCF 925 flugel
King 1122 MFH

10 out of 10 people die. Do you consider yourself to be a good person?

trumpetplayer87 · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2003 2:19 pm Post subject:

Thanks a lot! I had expected this thread to be unanswered and slip to the bottom rather quickly.

I hope the laquer does come off in hot water. I'm thinking I'm going to have problems with mainly the tight areas that are around where the tubing meets and such.

Bonnie