Cleaning old bronze - best methods

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OldLady

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Hi,

We have a number of bronze port holes to clean up that are very old and heavily tarnished. We've heard a number of suggestions including using the oil from Otter pelts but I don't think that's the way forward really:).

Many thanks in advance.
 
If you clean them they will quickly tarnish again and you will be cleaning them for ever.

Bronze or gunmetal will on contact with sea air will slowly patinate to a pleasing darker brown colour with tinges of green. This does not effect its strength, performance or life expectancy and is in fact its natural state. if a gleaming polished finish is preferred then any good metal polish can be used to keep it as new and perhaps a smear of petroleum jelly will keep the polished finish longer where the function of the fitting allows.

This was taken from Metals and fastening guide of Davey and Company ltd.
 
Those green, kitchen scouring pads and water will clean them very quickly.
However, as has been said, they will soon tarnish again. I like the tarnished look of bronze :)
 
Brown sauce.
Boiling in vinagar and salt.
These will both take off the green etc and brown sauce in situ
There is out there a proprietry mix which someone I knew many years ago used for cleaning antique bronzes;copper;brass;silver
Not the little bottles but a gallon at a time!
 
We're happy to have a nice brown tarnished look but these are off a 1930's Hilyard and by the looks of it have never been cleaned (they have a thick green crust).
Thanks for the suggestions.
 
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