How to Apply Stain or Paint Over Lacquered Brass

Put on rubber gloves and a paper dust mask. Dampen a rag with liquid de-glosser and rub it all over the brass. Change the cloth as necessary to prevent smudging the brass with black marks.

Wipe the brass thoroughly with a clean rag. Apply some acetone to a cotton pad and clean the brass again. Again, change the cotton pad as it becomes dirty.

Dry the brass again with the clean rag. Sand the entire brass surface evenly with fine-grit sandpaper. Rub the brass down with a tack cloth to remove the sanding dust.

Use painter's tape to cover any cords, sockets and other accessories you don't want splattered with paint. Spray the brass with a light coat of oil-based white primer. Wait 30 minutes and spray on a second coat.

Sand any drips lightly with fine-grit sandpaper and clean up any dust with the tack cloth. Paint the brass with flat-finish oil-based paint in the color of your choice. Spray on two coats as you did with the primer.

Let the paint dry several hours. Sand any drips again and wipe down the brass as you did before. Cover the brass with one coat of clear, spray-on water-based polyurethane and let it dry 24 hours before removing any tape.