Best method for stripping lacquer off a crusty Yamaha?

[DeCipherPositions]

Hey all, I've recently been tasked with removing all the lacquer from a pretty beat up Yamaha YBL-612 bell without removing any of the surrounding lacquer in the valve section or main tuning slide. I've managed to remove about half of the bell lacquer using a hair steamer and multiple rounds of Easy-Off, but was wondering if anyone had an easier approach to stripping the bell, preferably without having to order any shop grade lacquer stripper solution. Thanks!

[BGuttman]

Yamaha uses an epoxy lacquer that is very difficult to remove. Best remover I have found uses a chemical called methylene chloride. This is the "shop grade" material you have been referring to. Methylene chloride is dangerous to handle; mostly from a health standpoint -- it displaces air in closed spaces and is a carcinogen under repeated contact.

I have had success using a very alkaline solution (like Easy-Off) with heat and high pressure water spray (around 100-150 Bar).

Other people have reported success with Citristrip, a terpene. Requires extended soak times, but the material is a lot safer to handle.

Good luck.

[Matt K]

I’ve always used a bench grinder with a wire brush attachment. Obviously this also gives it a scratch brush finish which may not be desired… Yamaha lacquer is pretty tough and I’ve always found physical means to be the best saying removing it. You can get similar results by hand with steel wool. Again, that’ll leave it with a satin finish. Usually that’s more expensive so maybe whoever is wanting you to do this might be interested since normally it would cost more!