Is it worth Putting Lacquer On Brass ?

[Knobby8]

Hey - I'm sure this question has been asked before. If you find an old razor with the plating shot, can you simply remove the remaining plating, polish the brass and then apply a lacquer. I know you can lacquer gold plating, so why not brass?

Plus there also seems to be some commercially available products on the market. I have no idea if they work, and if they do for how long. An example being: http://www.everbritecoatings.com/brass.html

Questions:
Best way to remove plating
Best way to polish brass (I'm going to guess elbow grease)
Best product to coat and protect brass (because I don't want to re-polish it every week)

 

[Maxime D.]

I always use Mother Metal Polish for my razors (Except if they are gold).

 

[Laird]

I used 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper to remove the plating and blemishes. Then I used the fabric backed abrasive cloths from an LMG or Micromesh paint polishing kit. These are available for model car builders to polish and remove orange-peel from the paint jobs on model cars. There are six grades available from coarsest to finest: 3200, 3600, 4000, 6000, 8000, and 12,000. The resulting surface is absolutely mirror smooth perfect. I then use Peek brand metal polish (Lordco or Petboys type auto stores) and then give the metal a wax using Mequiar's liquid Hi-tech whatever. Looks good and less maintenance. Only seems to need an occasional buff with a towel or re-wax every couple months at the most.

 

[Foyle]

Yes, you can lacquer brass. Trumpets, tubas, trombones, and other brass musical instruments are lacquered. Just make sure you get a lacquer formulated for metal. Go to your local music store and ask if you can buy a can of lacquer from their repair shop.

 

[Knobby8]

Well thats good news. It now means I can explore buying some more (less expensive) DE's.

Another Question:
Is there any industrial strength marine lacquer??. A lot of shipping still has brass exposed to the elements.

 

[Icebear]

There is a special kind of clear varnish / laquer called Zapon.
It a nitrocellulose based coating. I have a spray can of that stuff.
Do a search for Zaponlack (widely available in Germany).
Here a source with a US shop:
http://shop.kremerpigments.com/en/m...lacquer--to-be-thinned-with-ester-79570:.html

I coated the volume knob of an amp after the old coating became ugly after 20 years of use .
Just polish and clean the surface, spray it on, let it dry and bake it in the kitchen oven after the turkey is done.
Apparently in US it's trade name was Duco lacquer by Dupont but it has been discontinued since the 60's.

 

[Stampede]

Description [Celluloid Zapon Co, Springfield NJ] Originally a name for a cellulose nitrate varnish (patented 1887) in a solvent mixture containing amyl acetate, butyl acetate and propyl acetate. Zapon lacquer dried to a very thin transparent film that was originally sold as a varnish for polished metals parts.
Synonyms and Related Terms Zapon-lack; Zaponlack; Zapon lacquer; zapons; cellulose nitrate

 

[Knobby8]

Incralac "Rylard" Brass Lacquer

Description of Incralac Brass Lacquer 500ml:

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Originally developed to stringent military standards for use in protecting non ferrous metals in difficult conditions, Rylard Brass Lacquer is now used in many marine applications for protecting such metals as brass and copper, and is intended for interior or exterior use.

With an excellent balance of hardness, adhesion and film toughness, Rylard Brass Lacquer has excellent resistance to UV light and resists yellowing and loss of gloss and clarity as it ages. The applied film also provides excellent flexibility and resistance to cracking and flaking. - See more at: http://marinestore.co.uk/Incralac_Rylard_Brass_Lacquer_500ml.html#sthash.IK8GMopX.dpuf

NOTE: I just saw this on an online store, no idea if it's any good .................. Thoughts !!!!!!

 

[Stampede]

I would think what ever you used it would require thinning it down and using an air brush in order to get a thin even coating so as not to interfere with the geometry of the razor with a thick coat of a brushed on lacquer.

 

[razors_ej]

On a similar but different note. Could something like clear nail polish work as a more short term substitute for laquor? The thought crossed my mind when I read a response to someone asking about engraving and it was suggested he should fill the engraving on a plated razor with nail polish to prevent the pot metal from corroding.

Wonder if you could use clear nail polish to cover a brassed razor to prevent further corrosion instead of replating.

 

[docfox]

In my Army days we used to strip the lac from a new brass belt buckle, then polish with Brasso. Gives a deep, rich shine to brass. Only required the occasional quick re- polish. I haven't tried this with a razor yet (waiting for the next yard sale diamond-in-the-rough), but seems to me this would be better than gooping up a razor with nail polish or a less than perfect re- lacquer job...