TubeNet

What is the best method to stripping gold lacquer? I have a horn in gold lacquer that I want stripped, polished, and then re-lacuered in regular lacquer. Somebody told me to give it an ACID BATH ....and how much would that normally cost? I have always thought gold lacquer is old fashioned and ugly, especially on large instruments such as tubas and sousas. I want this horn to look more modern and not look out of place. Any comments would be appreciated.

TUbajohn20J wrote:What is the best method to stripping gold lacquer? I have a horn in gold lacquer that I want stripped, polished, and then re-lacuered in regular lacquer. Somebody told me to give it an ACID BATH ....and how much would that normally cost? I have always thought gold lacquer is old fashioned and ugly, especially on large instruments such as tubas and sousas. I want this horn to look more modern and not look out of place. Any comments would be appreciated.

Some older lacquers come off simply with very hot water. Most of the lacquers I've seen (color doesn't matter) will come off using a product called Aircraft Stripper that can be purchased at many auto supply stores. Some lacquers are very difficult to remove as is the case with some of the King lacquers. It has to be removed using caustics such as Easy-Off Oven Cleaner.

The later is sometimes referred to as 'gold' lacquer and it often turns orange-ish after many years. This stuff falls into the category of the King lacquer that requires caustics.

Word of caution.... you might be able to strip off your old lacquer. But.... having new lacquer applied CORRECTLY is very expensive.

I've always held that raw brass looks better than crummy lacquer... just my opinion.

Sounds like you are speaking from personal experience, Bloke. Sounds like a good story: care to share?

Heat up the easy off can before use? Or heat up the horn?

TUbajohn20J wrote:Heat up the easy off can before use? Or heat up the horn?

If that's not an indication that this isn't a "do-it-yourself" job, I honestly don't know what would be. Wow.

TUbajohn20J wrote:Heat up the easy off can before use? Or heat up the horn?

I've found that laying the horn in direct sunlight prior to spraying with Easy-Off will improve the stripping action.

DO NOT do this with Aircraft Stripper. It works best around 75 or so degrees. Sunshine will dry it too quickly and then you'll have to scrub the stripper off, too!

Todd S. Malicoate wrote: If that's not an indication that this isn't a "do-it-yourself" job, I honestly don't know what would be. Wow.

Thanks for the support, Todd. And thanks Dan I'll try that. I am going to strip this horn myself

TUbajohn20J wrote:Any comments would be appreciated.

I really wish people wouldn't use this line when they clearly don't mean it.

You're welcome, by the way. I'll be more clear...your questions indicate that you obviously don't know what you're doing. That's not a stab at you, it's a reality. I won't sugar-coat, and I speak from experience...you almost surely won't like the results of a "do-it-yourself" lacquer stripping when you don't know what to do. Methylene chloride ("aircraft stripper") is a caustic and very nasty material. There are very real safety concerns for a novice, and you can burn the raw brass if you leave it on too long.

Besides, that's the least expensive and least time-consuming part of the three-way procedure you said you want in your first post (stripped, polished, re-lacquered). You're not saving much (if anything) by doing the stripping yourself, anyway, so why chance it?

A really good auto mechanic once gave me some very good advice that also relates well to instrument repair:

Don't do any "difficult" repair the first time on something you want to drive. Practice on a buddy's vehicle first.

Good luck with your project, in any case. Feel free to dismiss my advice entirely, and please don't be offended that I speak candidly...I don't mean it personally.

I'm in school for Band Instrument Repair. I'm going to strip my horn at school, and use the aircraft paint stripper, but let me read you the first line one the directions for use on the can of the paint remover.

directions on the Aircraft Paint Remover wrote:This product is designed for application by trained professionals using proper equiptment under controlled conditions. This product is not intended for sale to the general public.

What I have is a spray can of it...I will most likely apply it in our lacquer room, with safety glasses, with a respirator on, and heavy duty rubber gloves. This is not stuff you want to fool with. When I decide to take it to clean it off in our chem room, I will probably have all but the respirator on when I do this. This stuff is very harmful. The can also says

directions on the Aircraft Paint Remover wrote:For best results, apply at temperatures between 65 degrees F and 90 degrees F, and avoid direct sunlight or strong breezes

This is for if I get to use it...I have the receipt and we at the school are even hesitant to use it because of the danger of it...

The teacher there doesn't even want to handle the Easy Off Oven cleaner. Because of the danger that is with it.

I'd say have a pro do it. Yes, it will cost more, but you're not the one dealing with the harmful chemicals.

If you want to strip your horn yourself, my recomendation is buying many pads of scotchbrite and use that with some elbow grease.

tubaguy9 wrote:If you want to strip your horn yourself, my recomendation is buying many pads of scotchbrite and use that with some elbow grease.

That'll only take about a month!

No offense taken. I really appreciate both of yall for your inputs. OK...so if I were to have a professional do all 3 things to my horn (strip, polish, re-lacquer), how much would that run me? I havent been able to get any kind of pricing yet, and even if I save $100-$200 by stripping it myself..that seems like it would be worth it to me.

By the way, it is that "King" style gold lacquer so I plan on using Easy Off if I do it myself...taking Dan's advice about letting the horn heat up in the sun for a while first. Thanks tubaguy9 for the idea of scotchbrite pads and elbow grease for the Easy Off.

Ok, does anybody have any tips to stripping lacquer with Easy Off Oven Cleaner? Things such as: Do I need to rinse it off very often, use soap and water for rinse off, should I do this outside, or what will it do if it stays on the brass too long...etc..

Again thanks everybody for your input on this

wasn't really meaning that for use with easy off...I was meaning, as the method of removal...

I know of someone that does lacquer stripping for $800...yes, expensive, but you don't know the size of a horn until you do work on it...

800 just for stripping!! YEP, I'm definitely stripping this thing myself

Have fun doing it...I think it may be a lot more work than it sounds...

tubaguy9 wrote:Have fun doing it...I think it may be a lot more work than it sounds...

To me, it sounds like about $1000 of work...