Botched lacquer job

hnijkamp · New Member Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Posts: 1 Location: NH

I've had a horn silver plated with all moving parts gold lacquer. After 1 year the lacquer started showing wear and now after 2 years it's peeling. I want to strip all the lacquer off, what's the best way to do this?

jmtrumpet · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 8:28 pm Post subject:

In my experience, any competent repair tech is the best way. Seriously, I've tried the DIY approach as well....it's not terribly expensive to have done, but it is a paaaiiinn to try to do yourself. Learn from my mistakes.
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Crazy Finn · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 9:25 pm Post subject:

2 years is bad even for lacquer. Yikes.
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mograph · Regular Member Joined: 17 Feb 2020 Posts: 97

Not all repair techs will do the stripping, but I believe Osmun does it.

They probably use a large plastic tank, and a sprayer, with adequate ventilation, to re-apply the lacquer. And the time and skill, of course.

If you want to do it yourself, you can brush on some paint stripper, and if you want to protect the plated areas, use masking tape, and polish the exposed areas. The same goes for brushing on the lacquer. There are YouTube videos and Trumpet Herald threads on stripping and lacquer. Don't forget adequate ventilation.

I've used nail polish on parts of the King as a test, but will pay about $599 CAD to Music Aid in London (Ontario) when it comes time to do the whole Bach. I want a nice, smooth, like-new look, and don't trust my skills at this point.
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