Re: Re: Re: Relaquer/Refinish my old valve/tenor bon


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TubeNet BBS ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Dean on August 15, 2003 at 09:22:03:

In Reply to: Re: Re: Relaquer/Refinish my old valve/tenor bon posted by tbone_nl on August 15, 2003 at 03:05:12:

The lacquering technique been mastered by artists who prepare custom cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

Of course, you would not apply primers or automotive rest-preventing chemical coats. Smoothness and glossiness of the metal surface are paramount. Machine buffing with specialized compounds achieves the specular gloss. Next, different effects are achieved by choices of a base coat, then color, pearlescence, metal flakes, etc, added to intermediate coats. Each coat of lacquer is finely sanded before applying the next coat. The lacquer can be adjusted with additives to make it tough. Tough is best for brass instruments because a hard coat would tend to be more brittle, tending to crack and flake off during temperature changes and (horrors!) when bumped and dented. This brittleness is overcome by the use of a plasticizer.

When applying the coatings, a clean room is necessary to avoid dust and insects. Additives should be mixed with the lacquer to compensate for high humidity and avoid effects such as cracking, hazing, and orange peel.

An automotive paint shop can advise you (and clean out your wallet). Books on custom painting techniques are widely available at auto parts stores. You might want to find someone who customizes motorcycles, for example, to do the work since they already have the spray equipment and technical knowledge.

Have a blast!




Follow Ups: