[sandster]

Hi. I've done a little scrolling down in this "Sax Finish" forum but can't seem to find what I'm looking for, which is, how to protect a bare brass sax, (vintage 1924), so it doesn't lose its' lustre after I've shined it up. Is there a clear lacquer spray? I don't think I want to wax it, (might have to rewax after a few months). Maybe I should just let it dull with time. Any thoughts? Thanks and Merry Kriz!

 

[milandro]

there is no way to spray lacquer on saxophone that is assembled, the lacquer would freeze any moving part.........so the only way is some form of wax either synthetic or natural

 

[sandster]

Milandro: I mean to strip the sax down....I HAVE to strip it down...it's in sad shape.

 

[hgiles]

Strip it and relacquer it. No big deal. Thats what lacquer is for after all.

 

[milandro]

Milandro: I mean to strip the sax down....I HAVE to strip it down...it's in sad shape.

Sorry, I got the wrong impression that you wanted to do this without taking the horn apart, you hear all sorts of weird things here! Sure you can spray lacquer all the parts of you saxophone if you want ....... there are specialised shops which would do this as a part of an overhaul. You realise that your horn would instantly become a relacquer?

 

[bruce bailey]

The problem with doing that lacquer on your bare brass horn is that the springs will need to be removed and a lot of work will be needed. I think a good car wax should probably be the best route. I used Jubilee kitchen was on some lacquered horns and it protected well.

 

[bandmommy]

I kind of like the look of a horn that's been allowed to age gracefully. Patina is 'sexy'.
Shiney is nice too, but if you want to keep it like that you are going to have to have it relacquered, or wax on a somewhat regular basis.

 

[hyperdash]

Is Patina bad for for the horn?

 

[Stephen Howard]

Is Patina bad for for the horn?

A patina is generally a good thing on a bare brass horn.
Thing is, brass is notoriously unreliable at forming a patina - more often than not it tends to skip the bit where the surface of the metal oxidises and forms a semi-protective sheen and goes straight to the bit where the brass goes green.
This tends to happen mostly in those areas that don't get handled.

You can see this in action, funnily enough, on the side of some of the rather grander buildings in town - many of which feature imposing doors with large brass doorknobs...and a brass name plate attached to the wall.
The doorknob will be a dull browny/yellow with a slightly irridescent sheen, while the name plate will be bright and shiny...with a border of brass polish residue on the wall.
The doorknob gets handled every day, so needs no polishing - but the name plate never gets touched, and so requires regular polishing to stop it going green.

Regards,

 

[curly]

I have a 67 Mark VI that that has been going green for the last 25 years. Its a re laquer....and it still sounds amazing. I'll make sure the kids put it in my coffin !!

 

[sandster]

Good info, all 'round. I'm going to ponder things as I strip it down. I've taken a few keys off and the pads are kinda moldy but still intact. Hmmm....

 

[sandster]

Good info, all 'round. I'm going to ponder things as I strip it down. I've taken a few keys off and the pads are kinda moldy but still intact. Hmmm....

 

[bruce bailey]

Years ago I took old ugly horns to a plater who did a "bright dip" where the horn was dipped in a solution of scrap silver and plated over the springs and all. Didn't look too bad and was fairly even and cheap. A store I dealt with took an old lacquered Conn alto and they dipped it keys, pads and all and it looked good, went into the store window and within a few weeks the window was broken and the horn stolen! Made a nice decoy....