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How to refinish a large brass tray

I have a very large pure brass tray/(coffee table) which sits atop a wooden base. It is probably 25-30 years old. A Jackson Plating company did a wonderful job of cleaning and polishing the tray but was unsuccessful in applying metal lacquer to the tray. What kind of lacquer should be used for pure brass?, how should it be mixed?, is there special equipment that should be used to spray the lacquer? Is this something that must be done in an industrial setting? Do you know of such a company in or around Jackson, Mississippi?

Margaret Jones
hobbyist - Jackson, MS, United States
September 5, 2009

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First of two simultaneous responses --

I would almost be tempted to take it to a body shop and have it clear coated with an isocyanate two part epoxy paint. It's much harder than lacquer and it stands up to heat better. Hot coffee and tea pots, etc.

Rod Henrickson
gunsmith - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
September 9, 2009

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

Try Everbrite [a finishing.com supporting advertiser] coating.Good nitrocellulose based lacquer can be ok too.Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
September 10, 2009

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November 24, 2009

Hello,

Usually on polished decorative brass, we realize two types of coatings :
- nitrocellulosic clear coating : low cost, very good aesthetically but poor chemical resistance and medium scratch resistance, realized onto lightning products or products which will not be manipulated or exposed to cleaning products
- Polyurethan (PU) clear coating : strong and chemically resistant, but the applicator should have a special formula for metal, some PU are formulated for wood and need a sublayer to have a good adhesion onto the metal.

And you need to degrease parts (ultrasonic) after polishing because the clear coating hates the grease !

best regards,

Nicolas

Nicolas Duthil
- Bordeaux, FRANCE