Brass Cleaning

[vyv_cox]

Ketchup is said to have a pH of 3.9

That is not a very low pH. A 1 M solution of acetic acid has a pH of 2.4, also not all that low compared with, say, hydrochloric acid at around 1. The figures for acetic acid are not miles away from gastric acids in our bodies.

 

[VicS]

Vinegar has a tiny acetic acid content, 1 or 2 %. Ketchup probably has a small amount of vinegar in it.

A bit more than that. Typically around 4 to 5 % IIRC.
(Determination of acidity of vinegar was a standard chemistry practical exercise when I worked in a school.)
The label on the bottle in my pantry says 5% and the Balsamic vinegar is 6%

Yes vinegar is listed among the ingredients on the ketchup bottle.

 

[Tradewinds]

What do you clean the sauce off with, Bits of bacon on one's fork or fried bread?

Look, if you're not going to take my valuable input seriously - I won't bother posting again.


Licked it off.

 

[Refueler]

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.

I was being a bit lax in my post ... as I've seen people use real scouring steel wool and no amount of polishing ever brought shine back. But agreed that using fine wool is OK.

Brasso / Bluebell (fav of car painters !) has been successful for many decades and at least is a reasonably safe bet.

If you really want to see metal surface irreparably damaged : Try Amway Metal Cleaner ..... the paste is so abrasive it takes all shine of any metal in literally one wipe !! It actually tells you on the can ... but so many people ignore that ..

 

[Refueler]

Sorry about the continuity issue. Completely passed me by.
Still, despite the naysayers, Tom sauce is effective,
Each to their own.

Maybe its like many good products in past ... todays 'Greenies' have destroyed so many products effectiveness that they are today near useless ........... Cilit Bang Rust and Lime Cleaner is good example.

 

[Refueler]

Vinegar has a tiny acetic acid content, 1 or 2 %. Ketchup probably has a small amount of vinegar in it.

Come over to Former Soviet lands and they still sell Spirit Vinegar that puts people in hospital with burnt throat / stomach linings etc. when they forget to dilute. It needs serious dilution to be table ready.

 

[Mudisox]

I give the job to crew who annoy me. Other people's dogs seem unable to do it well enough, too many pawes in the process.

 

[Daydream believer]

Look, if you're not going to take my valuable input seriously - I won't bother posting again.


Licked it off.

The Perishers, in the Daily Mirror would have saved it up & made an inch thick tomato ketchup sarnie. Licking it off without using bread, toast, bacon or fried bread is just gross. No table manners
No wonder I have mucky brass bits if I am expected to go round licking it. ?

 

[Minerva]

I bought some Brass lamps from this Fora - they came up beautiful after an hour or so using a medium then soft polishing pad fitted to a bench grinder.

 

[Poignard]

I bought some Brass lamps from this Fora - they came up beautiful after an hour or so using a medium then soft polishing pad fitted to a bench grinder.

Don't let him know that. He might wish he had done it and upped the price!

 

[Minerva]

Don't let him know that. He might wish he had done it and upped the price!

I won't tell him if you won't!

P.s. They were just the ticket the other driech weekend aboard!

 

[Poignard]

I won't tell him if you won't!

 

[vyv_cox]

A bit more than that. Typically around 4 to 5 % IIRC.
(Determination of acidity of vinegar was a standard chemistry practical exercise when I worked in a school.)
The label on the bottle in my pantry says 5% and the Balsamic vinegar is 6%

Yes vinegar is listed among the ingredients on the ketchup bottle.

My memory is not what it was?

 

[Poignard]

My memory is not what it was?

You are Warrington Minge and I claim my £5.

 

[Praxinoscope]

When you have finished all the hard bit and got a nice shiny brass, try using some ‘Incralac’ brass laquer to prolong its shiny appearance.

 

[Halo]

All this talk of Brasso reminded me of The Brasso Song which can be heard at

roberts and barrand shine your buttons with brasso listen - Bing video

 

[Ian_Edwards]

I'd try Autosol, like Brasso, but initially more aggressive.
I use it to polish the prop every year.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Acetic acid is vinegar - so similar to the the ketchup option but faster

Many of the Polish and other Eastern European grocery shops around Dublin sell a cleaning vinegar which is considerably more concentrated than the culinary variety and may very well be more effective in cleaning brass. I will experiment and report when I get home.

 

[yotter]

Quite remarkable, its changed from a barometer to a clock. We find Peek polish very good.

No sense of humour down South?

 

[thinwater]

Citric acid. Faster removal, less damamge to the underlying metal than other suggestions (I have tested many products side-by-side, measuring both descaling and metal loass). Google it. About 3-5%, hot is preferred. Spotless Stainless is jelled citric acid.