Müller Lacquer - The idea
Because brass and copper tend to oxidise quickly, freshly cleaned instruments always started to tarnish immediately and soon looked shabby again. Musicians' wives in particular could tell us a thing or two about this - particularly those married to tuba players ...
In the years after the War, the idea of coating the metal surface to prevent re-tarnishing was born in the USA. European manufacturers gradually picked up this idea as well. The resistance of professionals in particular, who feared a reduction in sound quality, was no longer able to prevent the triumphal march of easy-care lacquer coatings.
Why MÜLLER LACK?
Quite simple; we have been dealing professionally with lacquering brass wind instruments for many years. At LEOPOLD MÜLLER, lacquering is not "something we do on the side", it has developed into an important pillar for the company.
Processing technology, equipment and lacquer composition have undergone continual improvement right from the very beginning in order to achieve the level of quality MÜLLER LACK stands for today.
The efforts to avoid having to use toxic chemicals such as chlorinated hydrocarbons (TRI) led as early as 1993 to a complete technological reorientation, affecting the degreasing process in particular, which since then has been accomplished by means of ultrasonic waves in an aqueous solution, making it 100% eco-friendly. The development of this plant was recognised and distinguished by the Federal Ministry of the Environment in Berlin within the context of its "keeping the air clean" policy promotion.
This process mixes a high quality, epoxy resin lacquer (state-of-the-art development) in a special ratio with hardener, retarding agent and adhesive additive, and although it places high demands on processing, it "shines" thanks to its brilliant appearance, smooth surface and long durability. This lacquer mixture developed by MÜLLER is the guarantee for perfect flow. The lacquer itself is elastic and has absolutely no influence whatsoever on the sound.
The lacquer is still sprayed onto the instruments by hand. The complicated design of instruments with many cropped parts, windings hard to access and superimposed loops and stops does not allow for automatic lacquering which would cause lacquer run in the front areas and apply too little lacquer farther back. This needs the hand of an experienced lacquer painter who has to take the interaction of factors such as outer temperature, humidity, drying rate during the lacquering process, size, age, material and quality of the instrument into account in each and every lacquering job in order to achieve a perfect result.
This is why MÜLLER LACQUERING is the result of an extremely individual treatment of your instrument.
What makes our lacquering method so special:
Specially mixed epoxy resin lacquer
Brilliant finish, elastic, durable.
Perfect high gloss
Careful polishing for a flawless finish.
CFC-free ultrasonic degreasing
With a water-based cleaning system, a method promoted by the Federal Ministry of the Environment as eco-friendly.
The lacquer & the procedure - an overview