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Metal Polishing and Buffing

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Tom:
Imagine what it does to your insides.   :grin:  You could try Coca Cola on a rag to test.  Phosphoric acid.  Brasso or Mothers.  Simichrome too.  Go lightly with a soft cloth. 

pehayes:
Project done, just closing the loop.

I have Brasso and tried that first.  Hard scrubbing and it had barely any effect.  Similar poor results from Nev-R-Dul cotton wadding.  Found a tip for 'BarKeeper's Friend' at Walmart which used to be powder but now a creamy mixture much like Brasso consistency.  Had a 95% cleaning effect in just a couple of minutes with a wet paper towel!  Worked a second coating with a kitchen sponge for a few minutes and the top plate is fully clean and sparkling.  Not a mirror finish, but far better than I expected and certainly far better than a rattle can paint job that I was contemplating.  No more stains.  Nice, uniform brass finish.  Looks fine on my mantle now.  Thanks to all for advice.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Tom:
Forgot about that stuff.  I have the powder and cream.  I've been using that stuff for the kitchen and bath clean-ups.  Good to hear that you figured it out.  Oxalic acid is the primary and active ingredient. 

Story goes that the inventor noticed an overnight pot with cooked rhubarb in it was significantly cleaner. 

" The secret? Oxalic acid.

Found naturally in rhubarb and other vegetables like spinach, oxalic acid attacks stubborn rust, tarnish, and lime stains at the molecular level, breaking the bonds that hold them together.

Using that active ingredient, our chemist formulated an oxalic acid-based cleaning powder that he sold to taverns for use as a brass rail polish. Thrilled at the results, tavern owners dubbed the product, “Bar Keepers Friend.”"

LowRyter:
I think I used Bartender's Friend or Babbo on my 30 year old outdoor light fixtures.  Then painted them with Copper Rust-Oluem. 

Sorry, no help.   :evil:

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