MTFCA Forum

-
Tom Zimmer, HCCSC and MTFCA, was right.

Tom advised me to submerge my failing clear coated 1911 brass in a pot of heated vinegar and, just as he said, the clear coat fell off like a cellophane wrapper. His brilliant solution turned a full day using solvent over and over again on only one cowl lamp into stripping completely clean three lamps in only 2 hours. Thank you Tom Zimmer.

As you can see in the pictures, I used a large frying pan full of water to double-boil a lobster pot full of vinegar. Upon reaching temperature the clear coat delaminated in only 1 or two minutes. I helped it off with a soft brass wire brush and small tongs. This was way easier that I ever expected. However, I should have added to the process some thick dishwashing gloves and full coverage lab goggles.
- -

Previous Post:

Hello fellow Model T-ers,

I am frustrated. Almost all of the brass on this 1911 Touring was coated with clear coat. Then, the car was left in the sun for 3-1/2 years, so an unnatural tarnish formed under the clear coat (picture #2).

Im using this chemical (picture #1). It is the strongest stripper I can find here in Northern California. However, it takes a minimum of 6 separate ‘applications and removals’ (15 min soaking each time) to get even close to removing the clear coat.

Would any of you know of an easier way to accomplished this?
-

You might try Berryman B-12 Chemtool... it's a powerful and flammable solvent. Use outdoors only and avoid skin contact or breathing fumes. I would treat small areas at a time. It will attack most finishes and plastics and probably rubber. Acetone is another powerful solvent, with similar caveats. If the clear coat is genuine lacquer, isopropyl alcohol might dissolve it. I'd try that first. Wal Mart usually has 90+% isopropyl alcohol for about 2.50 a quart.

Google solutions
Lacquer Finish
hot water and Baking Soda https://www.hunker.com/12000865/how-to- ... from-brass
lacquer thinner https://homeguides.sfgate.com/remove-la ... 99024.html
3 different ways https://www.wikihow.com/De-Lacquer-Brass
Some of the above use Acetone (they have to have to allow nail polish remover in Cal)

My favorite stripper for small parts is a 5 gal bucket of berry man carburetor cleaner. Over night soaking.

Lacquer thinner!!

Seems like I saw this car for sale not long ago on the forum? Just curious. Looks good!

Find a shop that rebuilds brass musical instruments. they can strip old coatings. IF you gotta do it yourself, place your lamp/horn in a closed plastic bag overnight with the paint remover applied. The closed bag will allow the fumes to work better on the coating.

I have had success using CRC gasket remover from a local auto parts store. It is great for stripping old finishes. I used it to strip the old clear coat on my brass lamps that paint remover wouldn't touch. It is in a spray can and easy to use. CRC is the brand I used, but I'm sure there are other brands that will do the same.

As has already been suggested, lacquer thinner will do. Don't mess with those silly strippers. It's lacquer on the brass, so lacquer thinner should be fine. However, that alone won't remove the tarnish. From what I see in the photos it's corrosion in the brass itself. Professional buffing might be necessary.
Terry

This is why clear coating is a BAD idea !

This clear is obviously not lacquer, the California replacement stripper ( Methylene Chloride has always been the top paint stripper) is going to not be as effective as others available elsewhere.
The clear would be a two part clear with a hardener, probably an auto paint clear, a stronger paint stripper as well as was suggested to seal it off in a bag as Dan has mentioned would be preferable. A good stripper will soften the clear and washing off with water would be the way to go. Avoid using any type of hard scraper.

Clear stops a need to constantly polish but should only be used on parts not subject to heat such as brass gas lamps, radiator etc. My E&J headlights/side lights have been polished so often over the last 100 plus years the manufacturers markings have diminished a lot. I avoid polishing them now as much as possible. All the brass fittings on my Town Car I clear finish and about every 10 years it is easy to remove & strip them off and buff and polish and recoat, far better than trying to polish especially when they are next to leather or cloth headlining.

-
I heard that there is an illicit load coming in from Nevada with 30 round AR15 magazines, 180 proof Everclear whiskey, French foie gras, and oil base enamel paint. Maybe I can get them to throw a quart of Methylene Chloride onboard.
-

NorthSouth wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 30, 2021 10:39 am

-
I heard that there is an illicit load coming in from Nevada with 30 round AR15 magazines, 180 proof Everclear whiskey, French foie gras, and oil base enamel paint. Maybe I can get them to throw a quart of Methylene Chloride onboard.
-

If the clear finish is not Lacquer then it may be a urethane. Have you tried using Acetone? If that's not available as such, then buy some nail polish remover , is Acetone and available without showing an ID at CVS (was an age requirement) At least try it to see if it does the job.
Another possibility is https://www.cps-parts.com/catalog/cspages/surestrip.php
This company is manufacturing strippers, paint dope and is located at 225 Airport Circle Dr, Corona, CA 92880
In their Q&A Q: Does Certified Coatings Sure Strip contain Methylene Chloride? Yes it does.
The website appears to have been updated in 2021

Steve, I had the same issue with my 11 t. I went to Costco bought a couple jugs of their vinegar. Use a plastic bucket, totally submerged. 1st time I heated the vinegar up prior to using, but I found leaving bucket in the hot California sun provided enough heat. Need to leave it most of the day, but you need to check it occasionally. What happens is the old baked on clear coat begins to break down and eventually it comes off in sheets of old clear coating. I did all my original brass. Hope this works for you. I also used a buffer at the end to get at hard to reach areas.

-
Previous (pre-vinegar) photos.
-

Brake fluid eats paint. Has anybody tried it? Cheers, Bill

Lacquer Thinner or some MEK if you can get it you don't even have to boil it a big container of MEK will dissolve that clear coat in about a minute. Then wipe it down with Lacquer Thinner to remove any trace elements of the dissolved clear coat that might cling to the part as you remove it.

Steve, Thanks for your post!! That's sure good to know. Looks like your coming along nicely on the '11. Have you any ideas about the seat cushion repair?

Much as I love and swear by lacquer thinner for a host of things, I will admit vinegar is right up there. Glad to hear it did a quick job. And, it probly smelled like French fries!!