TromboneChat

Hi folks,

Let's have an open and honest discussion about relacquering your horn. Have you done it? Is it better, the same or worse than original lacquer? What produce can be used on very beaten up lacquer and scratch marks?

Ready? Set?

GO!

Some pictures of what I mean by bad lacquer

The only way to really make that look "good" is a complete strip and refinish.

In my experience, there is very little difference in how he horn plays before-after. As long as the tech is careful and deliberate in what they do. There are some people who will buff the crap out of horns, and that "can" make them play differently.

Another thing that makes them play differently is too thick a coating.

A good refinish job is going to be expensive. And you won't be able to recoup it in resale value.

I'd just strip it and then... leave it that way. Patina for life!!

I have a bunch of ugly horns that play great. I've had some horns that were way over buffed, and the thin bell plays noticeably different. I've never had a horn re-lacquered, but I've had lacquer removed often.

I know some people are very conscious of looks. I'm not one. I'm more concerned about how they play.

I've had quite a few horns re-laqured over the years - never found it made much/any difference to the way they played. I've always been blessed with good tecnicians though!... Doug

Is there a truck to stripping the lacquer safely ?

Larryk wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 6:13 pm Is there a trick to stripping the lacquer safely ?

Yes. Find a shop that is properly equipped to do the job and have them do it.

Cellulose lacquer can be removed with lacquer thinner which needs good ventilation and can make you sick.

Epoxy lacquer needs special chemicals that are quite hazardous.

If you have no idea what kind of lacquer you are dealing with, you have no business trying.

Honestly, the only part of my horn I really care about the lacquer on is the grip area. I don't like leather handgrips, but I also hate the smell that gets on my hands from raw brass and raw nickel silver when it has oxidized from being held. So If I was to get lacquer work done on a horn, it would most likely just be for the top of the slide and maybe the bell receiver area.

tbonesullivan wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 9:12 pm Honestly, the only part of my horn I really care about the lacquer on is the grip area. I don't like leather handgrips, but I also hate the smell that gets on my hands from raw brass and raw nickel silver when it has oxidized from being held. So If I was to get lacquer work done on a horn, it would most likely just be for the top of the slide and maybe the bell receiver area.

I know someone who got some of the invisible plastic film that they use to protect cars and had that applied on all the contact points. We played the same horn and I noticed no difference

What Aiden and hyperbola said is it. I remember a quote from someone who said "some people polish 'em, some people play 'em". I'm definitely in the second camp..

If there was no lacquer on earth, manufacturers could never sell new horns. The shine is part of the sales psychology.

BGuttman wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 7:21 pm Epoxy lacquer needs special chemicals that are quite hazardous.

I have in my shop a can of Jasco Premium Paint & Epoxy Remover. It has only a little remaining in it, which means that I used it at some time in the past. But I can't remember what I used it on. Perhaps the chemicals in it have suppressed my memory (it does contain things like ethylbenzene), but more likely it's just age-related. I do tend to gear up and use respirators with stuff like this.

Has anyone reading this ever used this to remove epoxy lacquer? I know for sure that I've never used it on any of my instruments and probably just used it as a paint remover. Just curious at this point. I've got some scrap trombone parts around here that I think are epoxy lacquered that I could test it on, I suppose.