What to do with lacquer peeling on a King 2B
- alberttrombone
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Oct 16, 2018
Hello everyone!
I have this King 2B Jiggs Whigham model, which I bought about twelve years ago...
The lacquer on the bell started peeling off in several areas quite some time ago, and I’m not sure what to do about it.
Right now, I really love the sound it has and don’t want it to change, so removing all the lacquer or relacquering it seems like too "traumatic" a process for the instrument.
But I’m worried that the metal might already be in poor condition (in a zone near the bell rim that is darker) or could deteriorate further… How can I keep it in the better shape possible right now?
And to to even out certain areas is it possible to remove small areas of lacquer manually in a "zero-trauma" way?
What would you recommend I do? Thanks a lot!
<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0087.jpg" index="0">[attachment=0]IMG_0087.jpg</ATTACHMENT>
<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0086.jpg" index="1">[attachment=1]IMG_0086.jpg</ATTACHMENT>
<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0085.jpg" index="2">[attachment=2]IMG_0085.jpg</ATTACHMENT>
<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0084.jpg" index="3">[attachment=3]IMG_0084.jpg</ATTACHMENT>
I have this King 2B Jiggs Whigham model, which I bought about twelve years ago...
The lacquer on the bell started peeling off in several areas quite some time ago, and I’m not sure what to do about it.
Right now, I really love the sound it has and don’t want it to change, so removing all the lacquer or relacquering it seems like too "traumatic" a process for the instrument.
But I’m worried that the metal might already be in poor condition (in a zone near the bell rim that is darker) or could deteriorate further… How can I keep it in the better shape possible right now?
And to to even out certain areas is it possible to remove small areas of lacquer manually in a "zero-trauma" way?
What would you recommend I do? Thanks a lot!
<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0087.jpg" index="0">
<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0086.jpg" index="1">
<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0085.jpg" index="2">
<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0084.jpg" index="3">
- brassmedic
- Posts: 1447
- Joined: Dec 14, 2018
It's not "deteriorating". Raw brass turns dark in color over time. An unlacquered bell could easily last 100 years. If the appearance bothers you, you can shine up those areas with brass polish. It's also possible you have some acid bleed, where acid leaches out from inside the bell bead. It presents as dark brown or black stains that emanate from the rim. Hard to tell from your photos. That's really nothing to worry about either. You might be able to polish that off as well.
- alberttrombone
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Oct 16, 2018
Oh thanks! It seems to be that dark stain near the rim.
Which brass polish product do you recommend? Not sure I can find here at Barcelona/Europe all brands available at the US
[quote="brassmedic"]It's not "deteriorating". Raw brass turns dark in color over time. An unlacquered bell could easily last 100 years. If the appearance bothers you, you can shine up those areas with brass polish. It's also possible you have some acid bleed, where acid leaches out from inside the bell bead. It presents as dark brown or black stains that emanate from the rim. Hard to tell from your photos. That's really nothing to worry about either. You might be able to polish that off as well.[/quote]
Which brass polish product do you recommend? Not sure I can find here at Barcelona/Europe all brands available at the US
[quote="brassmedic"]It's not "deteriorating". Raw brass turns dark in color over time. An unlacquered bell could easily last 100 years. If the appearance bothers you, you can shine up those areas with brass polish. It's also possible you have some acid bleed, where acid leaches out from inside the bell bead. It presents as dark brown or black stains that emanate from the rim. Hard to tell from your photos. That's really nothing to worry about either. You might be able to polish that off as well.[/quote]
- UATrombone
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Sep 15, 2024
Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
I've used a wadding material called Nevr-Dull (may have other names -- I have a 50 year old can of the stuff from my father-in-law that was called Maserati). It shines up the exposed brass nicely. A friend shined up an old tuba with the stuff and it was still shiny a year later. Also seems to leave lacquer alone.
- Bonearzt
- Posts: 833
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
[quote="BGuttman"]I've used a wadding material called Nevr-Dull (may have other names -- I have a 50 year old can of the stuff from my father-in-law that was called Maserati). It shines up the exposed brass nicely. A friend shined up an old tuba with the stuff and it was still shiny a year later. Also seems to leave lacquer alone.[/quote]
Unless it has abrasives, a "polish" most likely will not affect the existing lacquer unless it's already loose near the edges.
After polishing, a car wax containing carnauba will protect the brass.
Meguires is a popular wax that doesn't have abrasives, used by guitar players & luthiers.
Unless it has abrasives, a "polish" most likely will not affect the existing lacquer unless it's already loose near the edges.
After polishing, a car wax containing carnauba will protect the brass.
Meguires is a popular wax that doesn't have abrasives, used by guitar players & luthiers.
- alberttrombone
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Oct 16, 2018
Do you mean “Yamaha Laquer Polish”?
[quote="UATrombone"]Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.[/quote]
[quote="UATrombone"]Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.[/quote]
- alberttrombone
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Oct 16, 2018
Do you mean this?
<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0095.jpeg" index="0">[attachment=0]IMG_0095.jpeg</ATTACHMENT>
[quote="Bonearzt"]<QUOTE author="BGuttman" post_id="266940" time="1739580211" user_id="53">
I've used a wadding material called Nevr-Dull (may have other names -- I have a 50 year old can of the stuff from my father-in-law that was called Maserati). It shines up the exposed brass nicely. A friend shined up an old tuba with the stuff and it was still shiny a year later. Also seems to leave lacquer alone.[/quote]
Unless it has abrasives, a "polish" most likely will not affect the existing lacquer unless it's already loose near the edges.
After polishing, a car wax containing carnauba will protect the brass.
Meguires is a popular wax that doesn't have abrasives, used by guitar players & luthiers.
</QUOTE>
<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0095.jpeg" index="0">
[quote="Bonearzt"]<QUOTE author="BGuttman" post_id="266940" time="1739580211" user_id="53">
I've used a wadding material called Nevr-Dull (may have other names -- I have a 50 year old can of the stuff from my father-in-law that was called Maserati). It shines up the exposed brass nicely. A friend shined up an old tuba with the stuff and it was still shiny a year later. Also seems to leave lacquer alone.[/quote]
Unless it has abrasives, a "polish" most likely will not affect the existing lacquer unless it's already loose near the edges.
After polishing, a car wax containing carnauba will protect the brass.
Meguires is a popular wax that doesn't have abrasives, used by guitar players & luthiers.
</QUOTE>
- alberttrombone
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Oct 16, 2018
When applying this kind of products, the areas with lacquer suffer any kind of change?
[quote="UATrombone"]Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.[/quote]
[quote="UATrombone"]Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.[/quote]
- UATrombone
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Sep 15, 2024
[quote="alberttrombone"]Do you mean “Yamaha Laquer Polish”?
<QUOTE author="UATrombone" post_id="266931" time="1739576340" user_id="18535">
Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.[/quote]
</QUOTE>
No, I meant this:
<LINK_TEXT text="https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/m ... index.html">https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/winds/accessories/metal_polish/index.html</LINK_TEXT>
They have 3 different "Polish" products: Laquer, Metal and Silver, for different types of surfaces.
<QUOTE author="UATrombone" post_id="266931" time="1739576340" user_id="18535">
Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.[/quote]
</QUOTE>
No, I meant this:
<LINK_TEXT text="https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/m ... index.html">https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/winds/accessories/metal_polish/index.html</LINK_TEXT>
They have 3 different "Polish" products: Laquer, Metal and Silver, for different types of surfaces.
- UATrombone
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Sep 15, 2024
[quote="alberttrombone"]When applying this kind of products, the areas with lacquer suffer any kind of change?
<QUOTE author="UATrombone" post_id="266931" time="1739576340" user_id="18535">
Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.[/quote]
</QUOTE>
I can't say because I use it on unlaquered instruments.
<QUOTE author="UATrombone" post_id="266931" time="1739576340" user_id="18535">
Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.[/quote]
</QUOTE>
I can't say because I use it on unlaquered instruments.
- alberttrombone
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Oct 16, 2018
Thank you!
[quote="UATrombone"]<QUOTE author="alberttrombone" post_id="266982" time="1739611716" user_id="3842">
When applying this kind of products, the areas with lacquer suffer any kind of change?
[/quote]
I can't say because I use it on unlaquered instruments.
</QUOTE>
[quote="UATrombone"]<QUOTE author="alberttrombone" post_id="266982" time="1739611716" user_id="3842">
When applying this kind of products, the areas with lacquer suffer any kind of change?
[/quote]
I can't say because I use it on unlaquered instruments.
</QUOTE>