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Quick backstory:

I found a Craigslist steal on an olds ambassador trombone. Thin lacquer and spots all over, but no red rot and the slide works great. I stripped the lacquer this weekend, and I'm contemplating finishing options (satin, polished, etc.)

The stripping and polishing has shown a few flaws in the metal itself. Particularly, scratches in the tuning slide and outer slide from 50 years of wear and tear. I'd like to smooth everything out before I finish the horn, and get rid of the scratches and tarnish spots that have developed. I used a couple of different polishes and even a small buffing attachment to my electric drill with jeweler's rouge to attempt to get rid of said scratches and tarnish spots. It helped very little.

My question: have any of you ever used rubbing compound on a raw brass horn? Can I expect to smooth the scratches out by using it, and then polishing afterwards?

(Yes, I know it's a tuba forum. Tuba is my trade, trombone a hobby, and I know several of you have refurbished horns)

Running compound

Thanks for that. If you hadn't have noticed that auto-correct error, no one would have ever known what I was talking about.

Rubbing compound is very abrasive. You could always try polishing compound first and see how that does.

Thanks Joe...I've been experimenting with some "satin" techniques found here and on other forums with an old beater trumpet, just to see if it's a viable option to do at home. So far, no dice.

I might experiment with waxing the polished brass periodically instead of trying to rattle-can lacquer, but I'm sure I'll get tired of re-applying and re-polishing.

I would not use rubbing compound, as it will never shine - it is too abrasive. As Joe mentioned, you don't need to get rid of every scratch, just polish it up and enjoy it. I have found that "Mother's" Mag Wheel & Aluminum polish does a very nice job on brass, cleans up easily, and seems to have at least a little of a tarnish-inhibitor characteristic about it. Best of all, it is available at auto parts stores, motorcycle shops, and even the local Wal-Mart.

Thanks, Lee. I have been experimenting on the old trumpet with everything I have in my shop, and it looks like the scratches shall remain. Cool old horn anyways.