How to Refinish Trombones
If your trusty trombone companion has become cracked and rusty, it may be time to refinish its surface. Refinishing your trombone can help it not only appear better, but play better too, as the new finish will cover up microscopic holes where air might leak. With your new finish, your trombone can become like new again. So whether you're looking to sell your instrument, or you just wish to give it an overhaul, refinishing its surface will help it tremendously. With just a few simple items in hand, you can make your instrument shine like when you first bought it.
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Things You'll Need
- Trombone
- Paint stripper
- Extra fine steel wool No. 000
- Brass polish
- Car wax
Instructions
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1
Remove your old coating (or what's left of it) with an extra fine steel wool, No. 000. If your finish is especially stubborn, you can wipe it down with paint stripper, and then fine it down. It will wipe right off.
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2
Polish up your unfinished brass with any type of brass polish. Polishes for this task could include Simichrome or Blitz Polish, as either leaves a residue that protects dirt and objects from scratching the surface.
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3
To complete the finished, polished look, coat your trombone in car wax. Use high-quality, non-abrasive, polymer-based wax. This will give the trombone a glossy, waxed glow, similar to what a waxed car looks like.
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Repeat Step 3 until you receive a shine you like.
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Tips & Warnings
Sniffing too much of a paint stripper can kill brain cells, so work as quickly and as efficiently as possible, so as to not get any of the smell into your head.
Some types of trombones cannot handle paint stripper as a brass remover, so make sure that your trombone is brass-coated, and not brass-plated before beginning this procedure.
References
- Photo Credit playing the trombone image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
