How To Strip Lacquer Off of a Trumpet

This is a how-to video about stripping lacquer off of a brass instrument.
Here is where you can buy the stripper.
ferreestoolsinc.com
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[@matthewsaxman1028]

Watching the "fast forward" of the stripper inside the bell was very satisfying.

[@ObtuseAcute1]

Amazing work.

[@urockitony2]

Thanks, Art--this is so timely; I need to strip lacquer from some door hardware and had no idea how to do it, so your video was a huge help!

[@KareemEng818]

How did it go?

[@Markworth]

Using a 4 valve Trumpet as your unplated example is a great flex.

[@gorazd88vidic]

I used only boiling water for all my trumpets. All the lacquer came off without using any chemicals, you just need a large enough bowl to sink the whole trumpet under water.

[@boojiecentoobie4272]

I know that works for older cellulose based lacquer. But have you tried this successfully on epoxy based lacquer?

[@ChrisRaspanteMusic]

How long do you leave it in the water?

[@VideoNash]

thanks

[@toomuchtoofast4533]

I love your videos! I was able to make minor adjustments to my tenor sax thanks to another video of yours... I was thinking of adopting and older Yanagisawa and taking the damages lacquer off. Do you have any suggestions as to what to avoid? (Pads, corks, mechanisms) ? Thanks!

[@HighMansx]

First! Love these videos. :)

[@ytonlinexi]

Hello there ! Thank you for your inspiring vids ! Maybe you can show us the differences between the brushed, satin or lacquered finishes. Besides the aestethic aspect, wich of the finishes you would recommend ? I found that there are several kind of finishes and I like them all ! Thanks !

[@brushbros]

If you put plastic wrap right on top of the stripper, it will not evaporate and it stays active. (Any kind of paint stripper will work.) The most efficient way to get rid of the nastiness produced is to set the horn where you can squirt it off with a garden hose. Not on the flowers or grass though. A soft brush can finish the job in the sink with soap.

[@toomuchtoofast4533]

That’s a great idea - this works w paint stripper I agree

[@calebcaleramartinez165]

Hello, good Day. Thanks for the video, one question, i Want to do this on a tenor saxophone, could damage the sound of the instrument? Hope get a answer soon. Thanks and god bless you

[@bruhsoundeffect8455]

Art you need to tell us about that 4 valve pedal tone trumpet. I’ve put a 4th valve on a c trumpet I have but took it off after it hurt the high notes too bad for me.

[@1090yoyo]

For those like me who are outside the usa, most paint strippers from the paint aisle of your diy store will do the job. If possible use it outside and with nitrile gloves, this is nasty stuff...

[@jackx4311]

I've tried two different makes and types of paint stripper on sale in England (on a Selmer trombone where the lacquer had crazed, allowing corrosion to creep underneath), and neither of them were any use at all.

[@moopsy9125]

Do you know any other alternatives for the solution like would acetone/ nail polish remover and sandpaper have the same effect?

[@TheAkram001]

I want to remove protic lacquer from brass buckles and rings. Which camical i used?

[@saxmusicmail]

I've heard people say to strip off the lacquer as it obviously makes the instrument sound better because they see old pros with no lacquer on their instruments. No, old pros don't strip off the lacquer. They WEAR it off from years of playing many hours per day.

[@antonioalon9625]

Art,what brand is the liquid you use there and where can I get that.

[@nadergt1]

For a house hold user , what brand of Lacqure for Copper would you recommend ?

[@garrylesmana]

Hi,what kind chemical u used to striping the lacquer?

[@MrTBoneMalone]

I've really been enjoying your videos. I know only a small group of people will take an interest in this type of thing, but I'm really glad that you do this. Instrumental repair is becoming a dying trade that not many people can do anymore. Question, do you have any recommendations to slow the tarnishing of a vintage horn with a satin silver finish?

[@davemiller7633]

It is difficult to slow it down but....there is a product on eBay called Hank's old timey silver plating powder! It looks like sugar more or less and is sold in a 1 ounce glass jar. Basically, you use a damp cloth with distilled water, and rub the silver plating powder in. I've used it successfully on an old mouthpiece. It doesn't leave much thickness...but it will maintain that nice bright silver look

[@francescomaimone8865]

If the tarnish is undesirable to you, then you can remove it with a silver polish cream such as Flitz.

[@MrTBoneMalone]

@@francescomaimone8865, thanks but I already aware of this. I have an old Martin trombone from around 34 or 35 that tarnishes really fast. Yes, products like Flitz can make it shiny again, they also have abrasions in it that I really don't like using on an old silver finish. With as frequently as I have to use these products, I don't want to wear an old finish thin. I'm looking for ways to slow the tarnishing down so the cleanings are less frequent. It's a good suggestion, thank you.

[@francescomaimone8865]

@@MrTBoneMalone sounds good. Just wasn’t sure if you were aware. Based on the above, keeping the instrument in the case should help slow down tarnish. At least that’s what I read elsewhere.

[@raefblack7906]

The Industry, needs some new blood.

[@Hakan_Derin]

Hi, thanks for the video, is there any way to stop tarnishing at some point?

[@lucaslangley166]

You just lacqure after it gets to a point that you like it

[@Gman44044]

Can someone tell me the effect on tone stripping lacquer has? I have a lacquer Flugelhorn, will stripping the lacquer make it brighter?

[@_smallmac_]

I assume it would also work for a saxophone?

[@richardbaumeister466]

Question. I have two trumpets that both would need replating as the silver is worn off in many places. Since Clear lacquer seems to not effect the tone of these instruments, What about using a pigmented laquer such as black or silver metalic? Even white or red. I am a car painter by profession so I'm sure I can create a finish that is thin but even and glossy. By the way, that clear coat you stripped did not act like typical Lacquer, it was more like a urethane enamel as is came off in a sheet where lacquer usually melts away in liquid form. Thanks for your opinion

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

You can use pigmented lacquer and some people do. It does affect the sound a little bit, but not necessarily in a negative way. The thick colored paint can effect the sound negatively. Since you are a car painter, I am sure you will do a good job at it. My only caution is do not do this to a good vintage trumpet. It will take down the historic value. I hope this helps, Art

[@josuebenitezquijano4205]

Does anyone know if this product works for silver-plated trumpets?

[@RonRova]

Great stuff! The fast forward was especially helpful! Will this solution remove lacquer from an Abilene 88H?

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. We just had a baby and I am finally getting around to answering questions. I think so, but I have never tried it.

[@RonRova]

@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop No apologies necessary! Family first! Besides I’ve learned so much from all the videos you’ve posted and I am very grateful!

[@therandompineapple3805]

Is there any particular reason you would want to get rid of it?

[@brhim5731]

That's a super cool 4 valve trumpet you have there! was it a past project horn of yours?

[@davemiller7633]

4 valves? I'm just seeing 3

[@davemiller7633]

Oh wait I see the older 4 valve one!

[@giuseppescozzari3632]

What is the reason for removing the lacquer? It seems to me that the sound also changes.

[@woutervandenheuvel493]

please tell something about the 4 valve trumpet

[@H_T_S-1]

It's a piccolo

[@Quadstriker]

Has anyone ever noticed that Wooden Assembly Mandrill and Table Leg look related? Same mom?

[@senethc.pereraandfamily818]

[@metoleify]

I’ve been using this lacquer stripper and I’m having a hard time getting it to work on a King trumpet. It has a yellow lacquer, is it just super tough or something?

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

King uses ceramic lacquer which is a different type of lacquer. I have never tried to strip King lacquer though, so I do not know why it would not work.

[@b25trumpet]

I didn’t know the daily dose of internet guy repaired trumpets

[@bentertainmentstudios7142]

I have been quite interested in your videos! Instrument repair is something I am considering. This is not quite related to the video, but I have a pretty old trombone and it's inner slide tubes have been completely stripped of it's nickel silver or chrome plating ((Whichever it is or both) Leaving bare brass). Have you done re-plating of trombone inner slide tubes? Have you done a video on this?

[@bruhsoundeffect8455]

He’s done videos with a spot plater. You probably have to send that off to get replated but u can’t have to think is it worth it.

[@davemiller7633]

Art does have nickel plating.

[@bruhsoundeffect8455]

@@davemiller7633 yeah but it’s a spot plater not met to do big areas

[@bentertainmentstudios7142]

​@@bruhsoundeffect8455 Yeah sure it might not be worth it to you or me, but It could be worth it to someone. I feel like spot plating isn't really parallel to re-plating a pair of slide tubes. I am curious about the process of re-plating slide tubes because I'm sure it has been done before. Maybe you just use a spot plater, maybe there is another process I don't know.

[@bruhsoundeffect8455]

@@bentertainmentstudios7142 I say worth it just because it may be more to replate a slide than it’s worth. I mean I think spot plating on a trombone someone loves and doesn’t care how long it’ll last then I say it’s a good idea. I mainly see it used for like things of silver plate no longer being there or like whenever u unsolder a brace or etc on a horn and u want it to be unnoticed

[@BriandeMSU]

Art- I’ve heard stripping lacquer from a King trombone is particularly difficult. Do you find that to be the case? If so any recommendations? I’ve got one I’m considering stripping myself. Thanks!

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

I have never tried to strip King lacquer so I am not sure. It can be buffed off, but that takes a very long time and will not be good for the instrument. Sorry I could not help more.

[@TheMothersD]

If anyone could recommend a product in the UK that could do an equally good job at stripping lacquer then please let me know. I have two project horns that I’d like to experiment different finishes with but need to strip first and I would like it all off efficiently.

[@vicvital6677]

What's the stripper's name please?

[@kiwicory100]

I have a question....the trumpet that had no lacquer and had oxidized...can that trumpet be polished and relacquered? If so what would you polish it with?

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Yes, it can be polished and re-lacquered. I would use tripoli buffing compound and then red rouge for the final polish.

[@tjsogmc]

@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop how much would something like that cost on a valve trombone? I have one that is very tarnished and I'm thinking about getting it fixed up so I can play it. What are the risks involved in this process, or is it just a lot of elbow grease?

[@ceilingunlimited2430]

@@tjsogmc I'm no expert, and it has been a long time since I was collecting and messing with horns, so I'm sure things have changed, but my two cents. There's really no risk to the polishing part of it, just a lot of elbow grease, although (as with anything) work a spot that isn't so visible first and see if you like it. Relative to the lacquer, it will change the way the horn sounds, so that's kind of the biggest risk I think, because maybe you like that maybe you don't, and there's no way to tell. Well, the other major risk is if you get somebody who does a lousy job of it, because then the lacquer will start checking/peeling. One option is you could just polish the horn and then hit it with a rag from time to time to keep it from oxidizing. Also - if your horn is old enough - it may never have had lacquer on it to begin with. I don't know when manufacturers started lacquering horns.

[@tjsogmc]

@@ceilingunlimited2430 My 'bones never had lacquered finishes, of that I am 100% certain. I did a test on the brownest one I had and used plain white vinegar and a diaper cloth on one of the tuning slides. After a minute of rubbing the brass, the color changed from brown to golden. I did the rest of the horn and it came out perfectly. It's not super shiny because I didn't actually polish or buff it, but it's much better looking now. I think in the future I will wipe the instrument down about once a month with the vinegar for maintenance. I think over time it will get better looking each time it's rubbed down with the cloth.

[@ceilingunlimited2430]

@@tjsogmc That sounds like a great way to do it. Vinegar has so many uses! I used to buy cornets at flea markets, etc., that were in need of repair. I was always worried about the non-lacquered brass ones, because they usually had this beautiful brown-ish petina to them, but if they needed a soldering job (of consequence) that almost always created a bright spot on the metal. I never liked cleaning the age away from them, but I'd clean them enough so they didn't feel gross in my hands and/or matched a soldered area.

[@antonioalon9625]

Art can you tell me where can I get that stripper you use there? Thanks

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

You can get it from Ferree's Tools. ferreestoolsinc.com

[@antonioalon9625]

Thank you Art.

[@Jojobizzare80]

Why do you want it removed does it make it sound or feel better?

[@lucaslangley166]

Mainly asteadics or if you were relacquring a different big spot, it will make it look cleaner when you relacqure it

[@stickom]

I tried Lacquer remover, Aircraft remover horn stayed overnight ... nothing it just cline but not even a scratch

[@chriscolumbus3695]

What is the Significance of Striping the Lacquer?

[@masongonzalez9371]

Will removing lacquer harm the instrument in any way even over time

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

It will just make it tarnish faster, but the tarnish will not hurt it at all. Some people think it makes brass instruments sound better.

[@javierquesada798]

health teacher and greetings he has not made more videos. I hope this is good. teacher, what is the name of the piece that adjusts the neck of the saxophone I have problems with the adjustment of the neck I hope you have understood me

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Are you talking about the neck screw? That is the screw that tightens the sax neck so it does not move around on the saxophone.

[@javierquesada798]

@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop 🎷👏👍

[@javierquesada798]

@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop Sorry teacher I was referring to the piece where the screw tightens thanks

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

That is called the neck receiver.

[@MaureenGloverMegProductions]

Why would you strip lacquer?

[@KenWood-tr5ok]

I would recommend eye protection. Better safe than sorry

[@veiledzorba]

Your supplier won't ship to Georgia or Florida, maybe others. WTF?

[@dave623]

Sending the stripper and old lacquer down to the municipal water treatment plant seems like a bad idea but what do I know

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

We have a septic tank so I did not even think of that. My father-in-law worked at a waste water treatment plant and I know that they have strict standards about how clean the water is before it goes back into the river. Also, they burn the solids and then put the ashes into a field where it acts as fertilizer and the plants grow well there. So I do not think it is bad for the environment in small amounts. I think that too much would not be good though.

[@robertpina99]

Still wondering why someone would want the lacquer removed from what appears to be a beautiful trumpet.

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Some people like the sound or bare brass. I would not want my trumpet stripped, but my customer wanted it done. Before I did it, I told him the down sides to bare brass, and he still wanted it done.

[@monivarinen9638]

@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop What are the downsides to bare brass? Do people just prefer the way it looks?

[@rodrigroudon1872]

Why would someone want to strip the laquar off

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

It gives a brass instrument a little different sound and some people like that sound. Also, you would need to strip off the lacquer if you are going to re-lacquer an instrument.

[@paulgrimm]

That horn looks too good to be stripped

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

I thought so too, but the customer wanted it stripped.

[@jackx4311]

Why anyone would want a brass instrument to end up looking like the tarnished one is utterly beyond my understanding.

[@IndianOutlaw1870]

It allows the bell to vibrate more freely and can give the instrument a somewhat darker and more resonant sound. Some traditional jazz players prefer unlacquered horns.

[@DNKG669]

I thought people who were interested in stripping lacquer did it for the sake of relacquering their horn themselves since it's not incredibly common to find a place that'll relacquer their horn well, or for cheap

[@jackx4311]

@@DNKG669 maybe it depends where you live? In Britain and America, there are plenty of brass instrument repairers who will strip lacquer, polish and re-lacquer, getting a far better finish than most of us could do at home - and the same applies if you want a silver-plated instrument stripped, polished and replated.

[@jackx4311]

@@IndianOutlaw1870 - that may have been the case 60 or 70 years ago, when the available lacquers were quite thick and rather gummy, even when cured. With the much harder lacquers available these days, and how thinly they are applied, I find it hard to believe that they make any real difference. And you might find this video of interest: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iX20n6WknbJ1e5Y It could be the same as Stradivarius violins; when people have done tests to audiences who can't see the instrument, even playing to top rank violinists, they couldn't tell the difference between a Strad and a top of the line modern violin - and I suspect that if you caried out a similar blind test with a top trumpeter playing an unlacqered trumpet and the a lacquered one of the same quality, even highly talented musicians wouldn't be able to tell which is which.

[@IndianOutlaw1870]

@@jackx4311 I can't speak for others. To my ear, they sound different. I wasn't starting a debate.