"Doc" wrote in message
ink.net...
Is there anything that comes in a brush-on or at least spread-on form that
will take spots of oxidization/red rot crud off brass without eating the
brass itself and does most of the work for you, sort the way Tarn-X works
on
silver? I'm giving an old trumpet a going over and want to reduce some of
the tedium in resurrecting the sheen of the metal before lacquering it.

Also, what sort of surface preparation is recommended before lacquering?
Please no "take it to a repair shop" answers, the whole point is to be a
DIY
project.

Thanks for all shared wisdom.

Ok, if the red rot is on the leadpipe you might as well replace it.. just
the leadpipe that is. Most often you will find the inside is eaten away
before the outside. Red rot is caused by your Brass turning back into
Copper. Saying that, you can see it can't be polished away. All you are
doing is polishing the copper not removing it, most of the time it runs all
the way through. Live with it if it isn't leaking yet and put a patch on it
if it is.
If you are DETERMINED to polish this, try brasso and wash the instrument
with alcohol before lacquering. BTW.. get a Ferrees catalogue and they will
sell you a really nice clear lacquer, they are on the web.

LLB (horn builder)