finishing brass

[pssherman]

I am trying to make a pen from a rifle cartridge. After sanding out any flaws, I used a buffing wheel and then sprayed several coats of Deft lacquer on it. The lacquer peeled off when scratch with a fingernail. Any ideas as to what I did wrong? Could a film be left over from the buffing process that prevented good adhesion? Also, what other types of finish are suitaable for coating polished brass?
Thanks.

Paul in AR

 

[redfishsc]

lacquer absolutely requires some roughness to bond. Wood sanded up to 240 has plenty, wood sanded to 12,000MM still takes lacquer OK but mostly, I'd guess because the wood is inherently porous.

The brass isn't. I don't have an answer for you other than I don't think lacquer is gonna do it for ya.

I have a brass pen myself. I have to buff it with silver polish (paste) ever now and then to get it to shine.

 

[Fangar]

Powdercoat of course.

Fangar