Brass lacquer?

KevO

KevO

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I know there was a thread about this a while back but I can't seem to find it today...

I have a few bits of brass on the boat that have cleaned up nicely, a barometer, a ring in the sole for lifting the boards and a load of brass locker hinges etc. What is the best way to keep them shiny? A specific lacquer or summat?
 
nigelmercier said:
Good question, sorry this is not an answer.

I also want to remove old lacquer, clean the brass (not sure how), and re-coat. I was planning on using varnish, but I'd be interested in any replies.
Click to expand...

I got what appeared to be old brown varnish off with very fine wet and dry, autosol and then brasso'd them all nice and shiny again. I want to try and keep them that way :)
 
KevO said:
I got what appeared to be old brown varnish off with very fine wet and dry, autosol and then brasso'd them all nice and shiny again. I want to try and keep them that way :)
Click to expand...

+1. I have a clock at my chart table, it's been there almost certainly since the boat was built nearly 30 years ago. The lacquer had broken down at the top and the underlying brass had become very tarnished. Brasso wouldn't touch it so I used it in conjunction with 1000 grit wet and dry. Took quite a bit of effort but it came up like new in the end.

I expected acetone to take the lacquer off, and maybe if I had immersed it for an hour or two it would have done, not advisable for a clock :eek: but rubbing with a soaked rag had virtually no effect.
 
I did my brass saloon lights and finished them with a lacquer from Halfords. If doing them again I wouldn't lacquer (my skill not the quality of the lacquer) - would just give them a polish now and again.
 
I have had mixed results using lacquers sold for brass and copper, both aerosol and brush.

Now go down the total removal of lacquer route and giving a regular wipe with a microfiber cloth which has been soaked with liquid brasso and allowed to dry, followed by buff with clean cloth, seems to do the job.

Given this tip by the chap who keeps the brass banisters and door handles clean in the Grand, Brighton.
 
Brasso stinks of ammonia, so I reckon there must be some truth in that!

I've successfully used Halfrauds' allow wheel lacquer on brass. You have to put a fair few coats on, so it doesn't look quite as shiny as "as-polished" brass, but pretty good at keeping it protected for a few years.
 
Copper very readily forms cuprammonium complexes, so ammonia helps remove copper oxide/carbonate surface tarnish by that means, I presume.
 
I tried the Halfords stuff on some brass strips I put on to stop the fender lines rubbing against the wooden gunawale. Brass worked a treat but the lacquer is rubbish.

I (and SWIMBO) hate the smell of brasso so changed to Godards Brass cleaner. Its much nicer to work with and seems to work fine. To put it another way, I am forced to use Brasso outside but I can sit in the kitchen using Godards with no problems. Makes a difference at this time of year.
 
An old trick is to burnish up the brass by whatever method and then apply a thin smear of vaseline. Warm the vaseline and apply with a soft cloth.
It won't last forever, but it is invisible and will delay the inevitable.
Plus its easy to wipe off with some white spirit when you next need to polish.
 
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