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Q&As since 1989


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Re-lacquering a baritone horn

2002

Hi,

I have an old king baritone horn. It has about 90% of it's lacquer gone. I would like to relacquer it. Would you tell me how and what I need to do the Job.

Thank you,

Laura Kennedy
- Archdale, North Carolina

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2002

Use methylene chloride for striping the old lacquer, polish with a good quality brass polish then use a good quality degreaser, preferably hot rinse and then spray with Nikolas 2105 lacquer.

Note several problems: All the chemicals used are toxic and can cause severe skin problems. For using methylene chloride you will need an industrial grade air mask with its own supply of breathable air. Also good quality rubber rubber gloves [on eBay or Amazon]. Use only their aerosol cans of 2105 lacquer. I tried using my own spray equipment and never could quite get the solvent dilution right. What I'm saying when you get through you won't like what you've done. I really suggest finding one of the professional brass instrument refinishers listed on the internet. Doing it yourself will cost you nearly 1/3 the cost, not counting the safety equipment cost and the results will not be good. Sorry I'm so negative, but as I once told my wife after I spent four days trying to replace a tranny in a 1962 Ford, "There are guys who actually make a living doing this crummy job."

James Shaw
- Denton, Texas