Help on removeing laquer

[and...@goauld.force9.co.uk]

I have a brass carriage clock,and over time the lacquer has turned to
a dirty brown colour.Is there an easy way of removing all the old
lacquer and re coating the brass to stop it tarnishing.I have before
now removed lacquer by polishing it off,and then re spraying the
brass,but the finish from the spraying is never as smooth as the
original.Can lacquer be applied with a cloth,( a bit like french
polishing).?

Any advice would be very welcome.

[Darryl Bryant]

depends on the lacquer, acetone or lacquer thinners will strip most off,
otherwise paint stripper will remove estapol and 2 pack types.

remove the lacquer first before trying to polish the brass, some of those
lacquers like on the bases of 400day clock can be that tough that you will
polish the detail away before removing all the lacquer.

use incralac or a clear lacquer for metal, shelac goes yellow over time,
other lacquer are not hard enough

if you are getting a rough finish (small bubbles in the finish?), you are
probably spraying too close, do light mist coats, 2 or 3 light coats is
better than 1 heavy coat, if the finish is mucked up, just wipe it away
with thinners and spray again.

for small parts like handles, knobs, sides uprights of carriage clock cases
I either use a tissue dipped in incralac or and oversize cotton bud, make
one from some cotton wool and a satay skewer, lay the lacquer on and dont
go over the same place twice.

cheers

dAz