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Some advice, please - I'm presently overhauling a 1925 Conn Chu Berry Alto Sax that my wife picked up in a garage sale for $25. It's all lacquer (body and keys), and the lacquer is in bad shape. I'd say half of it has fallen off of the keys, and it looks like a significant amount will come off the body during the process of cleaning it.

Any suggestions for stripping the remaining lacquer off? TubaTinker once recommended "Aircraft" brand stripper from car parts stores in another thread (thanks, Dan), but I thought I would see if anyone who has had specific experience stripping lacquer from Conn horns of this era might have a different suggestion. I could just leave the remaining lacquer, but I'd like for the horn to look nice for my wife.

I'm looking forward to completing this project. Although I doubt this will be the case with this horn, I understand a Conn Chu Berry Alto in very good condition can be worth as much as $2,000.

Thanks -

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried boiling water on a couple of the keys tonight, and it did remove some of the lacquer. The keys are in worse shape than the body though, so I may try some of the heavy-bodied stripper Joe suggested on the body, since I've got some of that already. If that isn't enough, I'll try naval jelly.

Joe - I could try your hot water hose idea too. Our laundry room is right by the basement bathroom, which has a shower in it. All I need is twenty-five to thirty feet of rubber hose and a garden nozzle, and I'm in business.

Much obliged for the suggestions, once again -

Joe: Got it - 100% rubber hose, NO vinyl hose if blasting with hot water, which would be a much better choice than cold water. Thanks for reiterating the safety tip. I will NOT use a vinyl hose.