Trombone Lacquer Removal

Materials:
Painter's Tape (optional), Rust-oleum Aircraft Stripper, Brasso, Steel Wool Grade #0000, Rubber Gloves, Rust-oleum Matte Clear Enamel. Bought at Walmart and an auto parts store for ~$25.
Process:
1. Prior to the before photos, I have it a lukewarm bath with dawn dish soap
2. Set up the removal area outside (or in a well ventilated area). You will need a sheet, rags/towels, aircraft stripper, gloves, Brasso, and steel wool grade #0000.
3. (Optional) I put painter's tape on the inside of the bell in order to keep the lacquer.
4. Lay out all pieces of the trombone on the sheet. Cover the inner slide with a towel or sheet. Spray aircraft stripper on the trombone. Wait 15 minutes. WEAR GLOVES!
5. Wipe off the aircraft stripper with a rag. The lacquer will come right off. WEAR GLOVES!
6. Apply Brasso using the steel wool grade #0000. This step is key, or the raw brass will look spotted and tarnished. This step also takes the longest, but it is worth it. WEAR GLOVES!
7. Wash off the trombone. I sprayed it with the hose and snaked the tubes.
8. Let dry completely before applying the Matte Clear Enamel
9. Let the Matte Clear Enamel dry for 30 minutes
Please note: This may not be the "right" way to do it, but I had great results.
Backstory: I found this Conn 88H on Facebook Marketplace in my area for $25. It was left in a garage for a long time and not played for years. I am not sure what caused the orange tarnish and lacquer damage in the before photos.

[@basstbn89]

Use caution using Brasso and steel wool. You will remove metal from the instrument and this can change the sound and playing characteristics. Wright’s Brass Polish and a soft cloth is a better option. It will remove the remaining lacquer and tarnish without affecting the brass.

[@mattrigby1871]

I just did this with my saxophone and it looks and sounds amazing! Thanks for posting!

[@freemancrouch]

I played an 88H in high school, and gosh, I'm glad to see this horn get dolled up and used. I may be doing this recipe to a King 1130 Flugabone soon. Thanks for posting this!!

[@cristiancaiola9588]

Thank you so much for this! I followed your steps on a Cornet from the 40's that I purchased.
I do have one question though, how has the clear coat on your trombone stood against the oils from your hand? I've found that the clearcoat on the areas where I grip the horn have diminished down to the raw brass.

[@clairebogdan]

I don't play much (I'm an oboist) so it's more just for show. The area where I grip was already super worn down before this whole process and I haven't noticed a difference.

[@gneveln]

A lot of work but a wonderful looking result.

[@MazichMusic]

$25 for an 88h. Wow! In the Detroit area, people list straight tenors for $300 and they are POS'. Nice job. Did you do this on a simpler horn previously?

[@Gickling]

i know i'm late- but i'm a trombone buyer, fixer, and reseller in the detroit area. you're still 100% right about EVERYTHING being extremely expensive and being complete pos. i'm seeing some worse than student models going for double what i would pay for an intermediate level horn. absolutely wild.

[@davejoseph6420]

Is the Matt Clear Coat Enamel expected to be long lasting? Would you ever have to re-apply?

[@ElCAPPUCCIN0]

Amazing ty! I have a sax i want to de-laquer, this will work great

[@redducks55]

This looks fantastic. Any difference in how it plays? Considering doing a limited version of this on the bell/outer slide of my horn.

[@clairebogdan]

I'm an oboist (casual trombone player just for fun) so I don't really have the ear for the difference in the trombone sound. Sounds the same to me.

[@Binx_Official]

There shouldn't really be any perceivable difference in sound yes

[@francescoloverre766]

Hello, I write from Italy,
I have the exact same trombone as yours.
On the bell there is written Made in usa and not elkarth.
You know what year it is, the serial on the slide has been deleted.
I can't figure out how old he is, and if they're elkarth

[@Juan_Bone09]

Is a Conn Elkhart 88H and is almost 50 years old and says Elkhart because Conn Factory was in Elkhart, Indiana but the factory closed in 1970 because a fire destroyed all the place and then Conn moved to Abelene, Texas
Now the Conn trombones are produced in Elkhart again but in the Bach Factory and the new ones are not exactly what were the old ones produced in Elkhart

[@matthewlockyer5571]

using brass o isnt such a good plan apparantly. ive done this and with my reaserch on the trombone forum i found out this
1. brasso works by taking a samll layer of metirial off (brass) so you can make the thickness of the brass uneven chnging how it plays, almost always worse apparantly.
2. using a clear coat isnt ideal too, its thick and again it will be uneven thickness. it will kill the trombones responsivnes and how it plays, especially a conn 8H!
3.if you want to get the lacquer off ones you have used to striper you can sue a green scotch pad, this will leve some scratch marks but it will not eat away at the brass nearly as much as bass o.
4. steel wool is a bit hit and miss, it will make you horn shine but small bit of wool are left in the horn as you polish and if they are not cleard up thye will rust and and cause red rot or worse! then its game over for that trombone.
striping the lacquer is quite common but is you want to protect it again then car wax is the way to go, you will have to keep applying it but thats why its good. its easy to take it off, all you need to do it wash it with luke-warm soapy water.
it looks good though, have fum playing such a beautiful horn!

[@clairebogdan]

Thanks for the input! I'm an oboist (12 years) and got this trombone for only $25 so it's not much of a risk to me. If I was a professional trombone player I probably wouldn't use my DIY process haha

[@Kokiriboy001]

@@clairebogdan As a trombone player myself who studied under an awesome player, I was taught that I should do whatever I want to my instrument to make it sound better to me. In my case that involved using plenty of brasso, scotchbright, and steel wool. If it rots it rots, get a new cheap horn and make it your own. I enjoyed seeing your process.

[@tyfude]

Would you sell this horn now? Thanks :-)

[@YannisManesis]

Could a paint and varnish remover work in place of the aircraft stripper?

[@matthewlockyer5571]

it will. it just might take a bit more work and effort. sometimes really hot water will take it off, unless its a king with the yellow laquer then your better off going and getting it done by a professinal, that stuff is hard to shift!

[@MartinSmith123]

Is it an Elkhart?

[@amandamay2654]

What kind of clear coat did you use?

[@nicolasdominguez6624]

I've been looking for an 88h on marketplace forever. Would you consider selling it?

[@clairebogdan]

No, sorry! This one's a keeper

[@StephenBeaudin]

How long did it take with the brasso and steel wool to remove the lacquer?

[@clairebogdan]

Probably 30 minutes and I had someone else helping me too.

[@jacobdeamud8873]

Conn 88h?

[@Jackie_J07]

I have that exact trombone :)

[@mombooze]

I would have just used barkeepers friend after removing the lacquer this is poormans polish and it works great

[@antoniocruz1163]

Nice