Good Laquer to fix up tuba

[bigboom]

I am refinishing an old horn from my school right now, When we found it most of the laquer was missing and we now want to put new laquer on. I would like it to be a spray or maybe a brush on but spray would probably be better because there wouldn't be an brush strokes. I am open to suggestions so any help would be much appreciated. Also any suggestions on removers for the small amount of remaining laquer but I can probably find that in the archives. Thanks for any help.

Ben

[Chuck(G)]

Well, a good general purpose stripper like Bix "tough job" stripper will generally get rid of existing lacquer.

But...

If you're after getting a horn to have a "mirror" finish like one sees on new horns, be advised that there's no easy way to do that. Repair shops use a power buffer equipped with a wheel charged with rouge. It's filthy work--and you need to get every last bit of the buffing compound and wax binder removed before the lacquer goes on.

That being said, the easiest lacquer to use is an air-dry nitrocellulose like this:

http://www.votawtool.com/zcom.asp?pg=pr ... =jndmimhqg

I'm sort of skeptical on how much of an even run-free coating you'll get with an aerosol, but there you have it.
I think VHT also makes a nitrocellulose clear lacquer.

http://www.vhtpaint.com/genuinelacquer.htm

[Dan Schultz]

You didn't say what kind of finish you are trying to strip. If it's the old yellow King lacquer... forget doing it yourself and take it to Redi-Strip. For anything else I use 'Aircraft Brand' stripper that I buy from Auto-Zone or other large automotive parts stores.

Once I've stripped a horn I usually just leave it raw brass. It takes skill and some special equipment to properly apply lacquer.

[bigboom]

Thanks for the help.

Ben