How to Refinish Brass Instruments
Brass instruments are commonly used in marching bands, jazz ensembles and symphony orchestras. Some popular brass instruments include the saxophone, tuba, trombone and trumpet. Any brass instrument's finish may suffer degradation over a long period of time. While faded brass finish will not affect the instrument's ability to play, it will significantly decrease the instrument's value. Fortunately, refinishing your brass instrument is not a difficult task, though it is time consuming.
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Instructions
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Purchase a chemical stripper and apply a generous coat to the surface of the brass instrument. Most chemical stripper kits come with an application brush. Allow the chemical stripper to sit for several hours. Check the container for more specific instructions.
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Use a piece of steel wool to scrub the finish from the brass instrument. Be as thorough as possible to remove all bits of chipped brass and debris. Wipe the instrument with a clean washcloth or heavy duty paper towel. Allow several minutes for the instrument to dry.
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Apply brass polish to a clean cloth. Rub the polish thoroughly on all areas of the instrument's surface until the brass is shiny. Let the polish sit for awhile until it dries. Refer to your polish kit's instructions for the exact dry time.
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Apply some brass wax finish to a clean cloth. Thoroughly rub the finish on every part of the brass instrument's surface.
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Tips & Warnings
Always wear gloves while handling chemical stripper, polish and wax finish to protect your hands from chemical damage.
References
- Photo Credit saxophone image by TEA from Fotolia.com
