Recommend a Brass Lacquer

[pitlaw]

I just polished an old brass cabin lamp-the popular bell shaped type. It turned out great with not too much work. I have 5 more to do. I want to protect them from quick discoloration on the boat. Which lacquer product would you recommend to protect them? Google suggests Permalac for marine use and other products. Is there a particular marine/metal Polyurethane product? I have used regular urethane in the past but not on boat projects. A spray would be the best. Your thought? Thanks.

[coopec43]

Hi

I use a spray pack of clear lacquer.

You may prefer to look at these methods?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhmD7DGahcA

https://www.google.com.au/search?ei=....0.LU6ZMXd5b24

Clive

[Reefmagnet]

Clear powder coat would be my first choice. Anything else will chip eventually and I can tell you from bitter experience that a clear coated shiny bronze item speckled with patina looks far worse than even totally patina'd.

[Pete17C]

Originally Posted by pitlaw

I just polished an old brass cabin lamp-the popular bell shaped type. It turned out great with not too much work. I have 5 more to do. I want to protect them from quick discoloration on the boat. Which lacquer product would you recommend to protect them? Google suggests Permalac for marine use and other products. Is there a particular marine/metal Polyurethane product? I have used regular urethane in the past but not on boat projects. A spray would be the best. Your thought? Thanks.

Polished brass needs to be tended to, as in, polished when is gets dull.

You discovered the real beauty of brass, it's "not too much work" to restore it's luster when it gets a patina/tarnished.

/a bit of oil after polishing, keep lightly oiled, re-polish, re-oil when you want that bright finish again
//or what reffmagnet said
///I have zero experience w/powder coat in saltwater

[Locquatious]

It's not a shiny lacquer, but consider using PropPurr (TM) which chemically bonds to the copper in the brass and adheres a silicone coating to the surface. We have some surfaces that have remained bronzy for ~8 years in the marine inside cabin environment.

[jmschmidt]

Lacquered brass is for women who think it will protect their lamps and such. The lacquer develops microscopic pin holes very quickly after application which allow moisture to reach the metal's surface where it causes spotty corrosion which looks worst that if nothing was done in the first place. Looks great in an air-conditioned, humidity controlled show room and then you take it home.

[zeehag]

i love the patina on my brass lamps. it gets along fine with my antique classic shiplet

[Djarraluda]

Hair lacquer works well, it has a bit of flexibility so it seems and small batches are readily available when needed, provided your wife is not looking!
Roger

[olivert]

Back in the 1920s boat owners had this same problem with lamps and portlights and every sort of fitting. When I worked in the classic boat market we received calls every week from guys working on restoration projects with same question as you. Usually they were going up a 1920s to 50s boat and had just stripped back all their brass from chrome plated.
Yup. that is the best solution if you don't want to Polish frequently or put up with patina or verdigris. Chrome plating was invented for non polishers. Good luck

[pitlaw]

Looks like this article provides a technical answer. Thanks all.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full...0.2017.1362863

[Cheechako]

maybe just wax it. Blistering clear coat will not be fun. I cant think of a single brass factory coated item that stayed good long term.