How to Remove Lacquer From Polished Brass

Put on a respirator. Pour a pint or more of lacquer thinner or acetone into a small bucket. If the brass pieces are small enough to dip into the bucket, fill it with enough solvent to completely cover them.

Immerse the brass pieces in the solvent, if they are small enough to fit in the bucket, and leave them for about five minutes. When you take them out, wipe each piece thoroughly with a dry cloth as you remove it. If there are still patches of lacquer on a piece, re-immerse it for another five minutes, or until the lacquer completely dissolves.

Soak a rag with solvent to clean pieces that are too large to immerse. Thoroughly moisten the brass surface with the solvent, and while it is still wet, rub it down with a batt of very fine steel wool moistened with solvent. Rinse the steel wool frequently in the bucket as you work.

Let the brass dry, then wipe it down with a clean rag slightly dampened with solvent to remove bits of lacquer that may still remain. When you have removed all the lacquer, wipe the brass with a clean dry rag prior to polishing it.