TubeNet

Hey Guys,

I am in need of some clarification about King's so called "gold" lacquer.

Here is the color I am accustomed to seeing, when referring to as "gold" lacquer:



I just saw a restoration that was supposed to be done in the gold lacquer. Here is what it looks like:



While it does not look like "yellow" brass, it certainly doesn't look like the first picture. Is there something that happens to the lacquer in the aging process, or is the first picture called something besides "gold"?

That stuff is what I affectionately call 'Eastlake Orange'. It's a real bitch to get off and WILL NOT be touched with conventional paint/lacquer remover.

It does darken with age.

A word to the wise... if you plan to unsolder any parts of one of these horns... strip the lacquer off first as it will turn glass-like at soldering temperatures and will then have to be buffed or sanded off. Hot caustics or 'Easy-Off Oven Cleaner' is all I've found that will touch it.

The second picture looks like either modern conventional air-dry or epoxy lacquer. ... not the same stuff.

Modern clear lacquers can be tinted to resemble the 'old stuff' but it's literally impossible to match.

It is actually a "Cleveland".....I guess it was their student line?

Z-Tuba Dude wrote:It is actually a "Cleveland".....I guess it was their student line?

It's King, H. N. White, Cleveland.... whatever. About the same stuff just different names for the same company.

I believe that the manufacture date of the horn is about 1962-3, based on its serial number.

TubaTinker wrote:That stuff is what I affectionately call 'Eastlake Orange'. It's a real bitch to get off and WILL NOT be touched with conventional paint/lacquer remover.

It does darken with age.

A word to the wise... if you plan to unsolder any parts of one of these horns... strip the lacquer off first as it will turn glass-like at soldering temperatures and will then have to be buffed or sanded off. Hot caustics or 'Easy-Off Oven Cleaner' is all I've found that will touch it.

The second picture looks like either modern conventional air-dry or epoxy lacquer. ... not the same stuff.

Modern clear lacquers can be tinted to resemble the 'old stuff' but it's literally impossible to match.

+1

goodgigs wrote:Someone here might be able to duplicate the old king look, but I haven’t EVER seen it done.

Wouldn't that be a treat.