Oxalic Acid on brass - oops!

[BlueSkyNick]

As part of my cockpit table renovation project, I soaked the hinges in an oxalic solution to clean them up. Next morning, they were copper coloured

Any particular substance I could use to restore them to brass, or am I into buying new ones?

 

[GrahamM376]

As part of my cockpit table renovation project, I soaked the hinges in an oxalic solution to clean them up. Next morning, they were copper coloured

Any particular substance I could use to restore them to brass, or am I into buying new ones?

In view of you sale advert, I would fit new ones!

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Fair cop !! I''ll be off to the chandlers once the GP has finishied.

 

[VicS]

You have removed the zinc from the brass, and just left the copper .... It's called dezincification!

Probably only the surface affected. They might clean up with fine wet and dry or on a buffing wheel.

If you buy new be sure to get them with brass pins, not steel ones

 

[BlueSkyNick]

The good news about living in Lymington is that there are three chandlers within a mile from home. The bad news is that none of them sell the requisite hinges.

A quick test with 240 wet and dry proves it is only surface discolouration, and all will be well in about an hours time, when I have finished them off with 400.

 

[Dave99]

Yep, golden rule with acid and alkaline based cleaners - keep away from metal!

 

[puddock]

Don't worry - I did the same thing. They'll soon be back to normal

 

[geoffatstanpit]

And the stainless steel spoon I used to stir my Oxalic acid brown stain remover mix went grey. No amount of rubbing and washing removed it!

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Best way to clean brass or copper is acid. Phosphoric acid as found in cheap Coke, or indeed brown sauce, works very well but dont leave it on too long.