Trumpet finishes

[larry9988]

What do most trumpet makers use as a finish on their calls? I know about CA finishes, but what finish will be durable and give a more satin or flat finish but that will hold up?

[savduck]

Wax/oil finish or CA then put some fine steel wool on it to dull it out

[Crawdad]

Wax/oil finish or CA then put some fine steel wool on it to dull it out

I will agree with Del on this.

[Austy]

If I turn a call and put a CA Finish on the call and want to dull it down after I get the finish to where I want it I will finish the call off with 0000 Steel wool to knock off the sheen.  I also will do the same if I put an oil finish on a call to knock off the sheen of the final coat.  I personally like to use Birchwood Casey Tru Oil which is a gun stock finish.  The way I figure it is if it is good enough to protect the wood of a gun stock in foul weather it should work well for a call.  The other great thing that I like about an oil finish is that the calls new owner if he/she feels the need or want to put another coat of finish on the call some time down the road all they need to do is hit the call with some 0000 steel wool to start, clean the call and put another coat on and when done knock the sheen of the finish off with 0000 steel wool again.  Hope this helps.

[larry9988]

Thanks so much for the replies. I have also used the gunstock finish and after several coats it had quite a sheen to it also. I will use the steel wool to kind of dull the finish of the stock finish and CA and then I will have a very good finish that won't be too shiny. Good to hear from guys I know are good trumpet makers and that don't mind passing along their knowledge.

[pappy]

000-0000 steel wool to any friction polish and then follow up with an oil. I use Australian Shella Wax (but it has to sit for 2 - 3 weeks drying to make it water proof) but in the end it will hold that duller shine.