my latest and last relacquer job

[jicaino]

Hey guys. This is my latest and last relacquer for customer. Just thought I'd share the pictures.
https://picasaweb.google.com/1030010...Miu0OmWjOKb4gE

[ericdano]

Why last?

[Smokey613]

Very nice!

[maddenma]

You can sort of see it in pic 26 in the very fine engraving fill, but I swear if you hadn't said it was a relacq I'd never have known. VERY nice!!!

[jicaino]

Why last?

Not profitable, big pain in the butt to do right, lots of stress added for a one man business like me. Still will be doing my horns and one or two very close friends... especially now that I have convinced a close friend to ditch that borgani and get a buescher

Very nice!

Thanks man!

You can sort of see it in pic 26 in the very fine engraving fill, but I swear if you hadn't said it was a relacq I'd never have known. VERY nice!!!

Thanks Mark, it's lacquered keeping in mind the preservation of the instrument, not trying to hide the marks left by use. This is what I had in mind you know... I on't think that you can tell by pictures, but in person it looks like gold plated.

[Grumps]

... but I swear if you hadn't said it was a relacq I'd never have known.

The pearls are too worn for such a fine finish.

[jicaino]

actually the pearls are a lot better than you'd think. They look uneven but they have a lot of "grain" in color, not uneven surface. Plus I didn't remove the lacquer coat on them so they look yellowed.

[Grumps]

Oh yeah, and the lacquer on 'em.

[jicaino]

Oh yeah, and the lacquer on 'em.

I was about removing the lacquer on the pearls when the owner (one owner, original owner purchased this horn in 1965 at the local selmer sales representative) said "Cool, like when it was new, lacquer over the finger pearls"...

[Grumps]

Okay... lacquer over somewhat worn pearls.

[jicaino]

OK now you win!

[Grumps]

Now on to the more important issue... how does it play? Almost as well as a Buescher?

[jicaino]

You know I'm partial to bueschers but this vintage (110 to 140k) is my favorite on VI's... It's fat, slick, buttery... not as "wild" as my TH&C but a very nice horn.

[Saxaholic]

Absolutely outstanding in all regards. Not many can make it look that good.

Well done!

- Saxaholic

[jicaino]

Thanks Saxaholic! considering the particular case I'm satisfied with the outcome. Here's the during pictures in case you guys missed that thread
https://picasaweb.google.com/1030010...LaWp4qM-b_sqwE

[Oric Muso]

It does look (nearly) like a new one. I like the new spring. Engraving looks well preserved. Excellent.
(Still trying to get my head round that toothpaste idea.)

[Bloo Dog]

Nice work!

I haven't seen your earlier threads about relacquering, so excuse me if this is a repeat.

I had my MkVI relacquered around 1980 or so, before they became so highly collectable. If it weren't for the really nice repad, etc., I'd have considered it a waste of money. Within two years or so, despite scrupulous care, the keys returned to their pre-lacquered state, and other spots that had showed considerable wear looked just as bad. The outfit that did the work had an excellent reputation for all of their work.

The work was done in New Orleans where the humidity often reaches over 90% for several weeks at a time. The lacquer took a long time to dry, and it was well over a month before I got my tenor back. I'm wondering if perhaps the lacquer never really thoroughly dried even though the instrument was kept on a stand in an air conditioned environment.

When you do a relacquer, do you subject the instrument to higher temperatures for a period of time in order to harden the lacquer? How do you prevent scenarios such as mine from occurring?

I've always wondered.

Thanks.

[Kelly Bucheger]

Hey guys. This is my latest and last relacquer for customer.

Really gorgeous, Juan: it displays what I consider to be a "juan cainoish" attention to detail. Thank God there's no decent food or wine in Argentina, or I'd HAVE to move there...

[jicaino]

Thanks guys. Bloo dog: No I don't "bake". I use fast catalyzer (kurz as the little german can says) and spray outside, not in a boot. I sprak every element alone, not fully assembled. And I degrease by hand washing, not in the vapor tank. The vapor tank is neat for plating but if you're lacquering afterwards it will cause the lacquer to stick poorly and possibly flake. After it's dry, I "bake" it with 2, 3 full days of sunlight exposure if it's sun, if not (and sometimes additionaly) I flame the lacquer. Meaning, I heat it with open flame and a torch. 5 times every piece over a couple of days (not heating 5 times on a row). Oldest relacquer job on this process has 4 years of abuse and it's still like the day I assembled. Nothing has peeled or chipped... I get a feel of how it will go when I'm refitting. When you cut the lacquer on the ends on them hinge tubes and top of tone holes you know if it's going to hold or not.
This is a 4 years relac of mine, pictures after I replaced the pads about a year ago
https://picasaweb.google.com/1030010...NHtj7vx_OjWkwE

Kelly: yeh, leave the ugly food and wines for us locales to bear with... I can't stand to think I'll be having a juicy thick steak and a chunky glass of malbec today for lunch... I need to move up there (as a matter of fact the food's the only thing keeping me down here )