Brass Cleaning

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My launch has some nice brass features, cleats, builder's plate, pins through the bollard etc.Unfortunately these are covered with years of Verdigris. Now the boat has had some new paintwork and a lot of cleaning , I would like to restore the brass to its original look.
Can anyone who has gone through this process advise on a good product/method please. I would also like tips on what to coat the finished effort with to protect the brass against further staining - if it is even possible.
 
Sounds like it might be easier to live with the verdigris , which is a look that some people prefer.

Something more powerful than Brasso may be required
Oxalic Acid (eg bar keepers friend or make your own oxalic mix or the expensive gel stuff)

or Hydrochloric Acid
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Given the possibility of adjacent restored surfaces being damaged the milder approach of oxalic might be preferable with a little and often application rather than trying to fully restore in a single hit.
 
MartynG said:
Sounds like it might be easier to live with the verdigris , which is a look that some people prefer.

Something more powerful than Brasso may be required
Oxalic Acid (eg bar keepers friend or make your own oxalic mix or the expensive gel stuff)

or Hydrochloric Acid
View attachment 136947

Given the possibility of adjacent restored surfaces being damaged the milder approach of oxalic might be preferable with a little and often application rather than trying to fully restore in a single hit.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip. I have both oxalic acid, plus some strong hydrochloric acid that goes straight up ones nose when the container is opened . So that may be first option.
 
I agree that Brasso, good though it is, may not be strong enough. I think that a frontal attack with acid may be necessary and then work up to a fine finish. I find that any old ‘metal polish’ works perfectly well.
 
I remember Paul Heiney, who used to post here, being offered the tomato ketchup and Daddie's sauce remedies. He reported back that it was totally ineffective.

I have had success on very corroded brass with fine steel wool followed by brasso to take out the scratches.
 
I hesitate to say this, but I used to live in a town that was full of antique dealers. (I still live there, but antique dealing is much less of a thing, now!)

I asked in the excellent ironmongers and was told that what the antique dealers all used was acetic acid kettle de-scaler.

It works, very fast, but it is probably dangerous.
 
Kukri said:
I hesitate to say this, but I used to live in a town that was full of antique dealers. (I still live there, but antique dealing is much less of a thing, now!)

I asked in the excellent ironmongers and was told that what the antique dealers all used was acetic acid kettle de-scaler.

It works, very fast, but it is probably dangerous.
Click to expand...
Acetic acid is vinegar - so similar to the the ketchup option but faster
 
I clean a lot of old brass, some of it 100 years old, in restoration work.
If its removable this dip is very very effective and quick. Quickshine Brass and Copper Bath : Amazon.co.uk: Grocery
It removes the tough stuff then you can polish with Brasso. If its not removable then the solution can be applied by brush a few times.
I use Brasso with 0000 wire wool and finally polish with a cloth. If it is black or green I use fairly coarse wire wool first, then 0000 then
the cloth. Lacquer can become a real pain if it starts to lift, much easier to keep on top of the polishing.
I have used a chrome cleaner that is made for motorbikes which has wax in it to keep its shine. Cant remember the name right now.

Edit, this is the stuff: Belgom Metal Cleaning Set | Mad4bikes
Do a search and you can by one pot a lot cheaper than on this site.
 
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Refueler said:
Loads of common stuff cleans metal .... Coke Cola for one .... the Phossy in it does the work.

Always wary of using anything abrasive such as steel wool etc.
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Brasso have made millions selling their abrasive product. Steel wool is very mild by comparison, less than a quarter of the hardness and no sharp particles, just rounded wire.
 
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