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lacquer removal from brass hardware

Our brass outside door hardware appears to have been lacquered originally, but the lacquer is worn off in spots. When I polish with Brasso, the parts where the lacquer is worn off shines nicely, but the blackened lacquer parts don't respond at all. How can I remove the remains of the lacquer and get down to solid brass. Then I can polish and clear coat it.

Edwin Felch
- Blacksburg, VA, USA

Dear Edwin,

Try using some acetone [linked by editor to product info at Rockler] to strip the remaining lacquer off of your piece. If that doesn't work, it's because the coating was baked on, you'll need to get a stripper with methyline chloride in it. These are both dangerous chemicals, you must use them in an area with ventilation, and you need a respirator. I strongly advise you to find more information about methyline chloride before using it, this may be a carcinogen. Once you get it all stripped off, continue polishing with Brasso [linked by editor to product info at Amazon], then clean with acetone to remove the compound off the piece, clear coat and you are done. If you don't want to go through this trouble, try a polishing shop in your area.

Good Luck

Jake Koch
G. J. Nikolas & Co., Inc.

Bellwood, Illinois

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