A Remedy for Taking Lacquer Off a Brass Bed

Cleaning

• Old brass must first be cleaned of loose lacquer by scrubbing with a nylon scrubby. Using hot water while scrubbing further loosens old lacquer. Don't use anything abrasive, such as steel wool or powdered abrasives. While abrasives may remove lacquer, they leave behind scratches that require a lot of polishing to remove.

Chemicals

• Any lacquer remaining after scrubbing can be removed with a chemical agent. Sometimes ammonia is enough to remove lacquer, though it often causes tarnish that has to be polished away. Often, however, lacquer must be removed with a stronger, lacquer-dissolving agent, such as acetone. Acetone is very evaporative and highly flammable, and must be used in a well ventilated area.

Polishing

• After lacquer removal, the bed is ready to be polished with a mildly abrasive brass and copper polishing compound. A soft, textured cloth, such as terry cloth or a waffle-weave dish cloth, has the correct, scruffy texture for the hard scrubbing that is sometimes required for removing tarnish from old brass. Replace polishing cloths as they become imbedded with black tarnish and polish. Brass cleaners are usually mineral spirit-based and must be used in a well-ventilated area. Use according to manufacturer's instructions.

New Lacquer

• Once the brass bed is polished, a new lacquer can be applied. While smaller brass items can be lacquered by the do-it-yourselfer with spray lacquer, professional lacquering is recommended for larger items, such as beds. Look under "brass cleaning" or "brass lacquering" in business directories. Once a new finish is applied, the bed will be ready for many years polish-free shine.