Polishing brass

[pugwash]

I have a lovely old brass compass and a couple of brass oil lamps but not having a gang of sea cadets or grandchildren or any other willing slaves on boardwe spend far too much time polishing. Given the advances of technology etc, has anybody come up with a way to prtect the shine? Is lacquer still the best bet? Problem is, it doesn't look too good and sea water underneath it soon creates an even bigger cleaning problem. I don't mind a bit of polishing, just not so much of it!

 

[rbrooks]

Getting ready for Xmass dinner I was ordered to get the silver out and clean it.
I got some liquid called silver bright . all you do is dip the piece in and it comes out shining.
I wonder if it would work on brass, I havent got any brass on hand to test, but its worth a thought!

Rog

 

[aztec]

goddards make a range of "dips" to remove oxidization from non ferrous metals. iv'e used it before and it works fine. i got mine from the local cobblers.

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[ponapay]

Buy a gallon of ..

Coca Cola or Pepsi Cola and immerse the brass objects for a day or two. That will get rid of all tarnish - then polish lightly.

Alternatively use phospohoric acid ( the basic constituent of Coke).

Whatever you will still have to polish - its good for the soul and the lamps look much better thah smeared in varnish.

 

[Franklin]

Using furniture wax will keep the shine for longer. Leave the solvent to dry after waxing before you polish up.
Frank

 

[bigmart]

Only two options to try.

1) Laquer/Varnish with its attendant problems.

2) Gold Plate the items. The reason quality modern bathroom fittings are Gold Plated is that it looke like brass but it doesn't tarnish.

Martin

 

[Guest]

You may want to try a product called "QWICKSILVER", which is just a 15 x 20cm metal plate with some holes in it (looks like aluminium). It cleans electrolytically. Put the plate in a bowl or sink, put a tablespoon of household soda (sodium carbonate) on the plate and add boiling water. Add very hot water with a tablespoon of soda per quart to cover the item to be cleaned. Immerse the article, touching the plate, and in 30 seconds it should be brilliant (may need to use a soft brush with very tarnished or intricate items). SWMBO uses it on all the family silver (like we have loads!) and it removes tarnish from my sailing trophies like you cannot believe (they're very old now...). Rinse and dry.

It is advertised as suitable for silver, silver plate, copper, quality brass, bronze, gold, jewellery and stainless steel. Instructions also say when cleaning copper or brass, wash the article before hand in hot soapy water to remove oils and wax from previous cleaners/polishes, and use the same amount of Persil Automatic (non-bio) as well as soda, and add a tablespoon of lemon juice to the rinsing water to retard tarnishing later.

As a metallurgist in a former life (before doing other things in industry, and eventually retiring to enjoy sailing and other pursuits), I wonder what this does to the article with frequent use. Are we slowly dissolving our silver just to make it look pretty? I suspect if you left brass exposed for more than necessary you might get accelerated dezincification, which produces a copper sponge in spots - like you see on brass props lacking sufficient anodic protection. They advertise it is used by museums and antique dealers, and is totally safe. I have never tried it on brass, so cannot verify the claims. You can buy it for £8.50 50p postage from Quicksilver, 8-10 Castle Street, Cirencester, GL7 1QA. It is often on sale at antique and bric-a-brac shows. Alternatively (unofficially), try using aluminium foil with some holes poked in it (I haven't tried this, but it should work).

Sorry for the long answer, but this may be the answer to your prayers, provided you can submerge the articles to be cleaned. I have been accused before of telling one how to make a clock when only asked the time!

 

[pugwash]

Furniture wax?

What a great idea. I'll try it. Thanks to posters for the other suggestions, too. I*'ll try them all. So if you see me sitting in my cockpit in the summer industriously scrubbing my compass with Pepsi Cola, don't think I'm quite mad.