Metal Polishing and Buffing

[pehayes]

Does anyone here have expertise in polishing brass?  I need some technical advice.  Not Guzzi related.  Not even motorcycle relate.  Offline as private messages please.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Gliderjohn]

What I have observed was on a Windjammer four mast Schooner back in the mid-80s. Had quite a bit of brass. The crew spent a lot of time hand polishing with rags using what I am guessing was something like Brasso. A lot time and elbow grease. If they weren't polishing the brass they were paint chipping and painting.
GliderJohn

[bigbikerrick]

Patrick, I have used a German made metal polish called" Wenol" to polish brass,as well as aluminum with very good results. It also leaves a film behind  to protect the metal from tarnishing.
Good stuff, I always keep a tube handy, for polishing anything metal.
Rick.

[DoubleGuzzi]

For heavy tarnishing tomato sauce works well: leave on for a while and wash off. Otherwise, a product that I get from across The Pond - MOTHERS MAG AND ALUMINUM POLISH

[wirespokes]

Could you be a little more specific, Patrick? 

Do you want to remove some corrosion or is it rough and needing more than that?

I'm guessing it's a controversial item or you'd have named it.

[Moparnut72]

When I was in basic training in the Army. The drill sergeants made us recruits remove the lacquer of our brass belt buckles. Then we had to keep them bright and shiny. Brasso was the product of choice, I think that was all the PX carried. Also conditioning brass casings before reloading Brasso in the tumbler media did wonders. Of course again, what are you trying to polish?
kk

[pehayes]

Lots of smart people with highly varied life experiences and skills reside on this forum.  Good place to ask technical questions.  I prefer to keep them private if they are not Guzzi related.  I don't want to waste everyone else's valuable time to scroll through irrelevant text traffic.  Thus I asked for PM replies.   Thanks so much as I did receive several very effective replies.

I've inherited a brass mantle clock.  It has no particular economic value.  It has no particular emotional or heirloom value.  It wasn't working.  Just a fun tinker project for me.  Got it running beautifully and accurately.  (YouTube is your friend.)  Alas, due to years of neglected storage, the top brass cover or 'roof' is substantially tarnished and ugly.  OK to stick in my shop, but not for the polite parlor room.  I was looking for some advice to an ignorant novice so that I might mostly improve its appearance without causing any irreparable deeper damage.  I don't need it perfect, just nicer than it is.  Time to follow some of the sage advice that was offered.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[DoubleGuzzi]

A whiff of tomatoes:

You'll want to wipe off with a damp cloth, rather than a good dousing with water. 

[Perazzimx14]

Dremel tool with cotton wheels/wool wheels and jewlers rouge followed by Flitz or Brasso clean cotton cloth (diapers work a treat) and if you do not coat it with clear coat plan on repeating periodically. Do not touch the freshly polised brass with bare hands or it will leave marks.

[n3303j]

I treat it similar to aluminum. Load the buffing wheel with jewelers rouge and lean on it with the brass item until you are satisfied with the appearance. Works on everything from belt buckles to bilge pumps.

[redrider90]

I prefer to keep them private if they are not Guzzi related.  I don't want to waste everyone else's valuable time to scroll through irrelevant text traffic.  Thus I asked for PM replies.   Thanks so much as I did receive several very effective replies.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Even though it is not Guzzi related many of us get benefit from such queries as yours. I often rather enjoy non Guzzi stuff. 

[DoubleGuzzi]

I wouldn't put a buffing wheel anywhere near a clock/watch mechanism due to tiny fibres that are not helpful! Different if you can remove the mech. from the casing, of course - then use a blower brush/compressed air to clear any microscopic debris etc.
(I've renovated quite a few watches.)

[pehayes]

Different if you can remove the mech. from the casing, of course

Yes, this decorative roof lifts away quite easily with one thumb screw at the peak.  I call it decorative since there is no attempt to seal it against the display sides.  Thus it is open to atmosphere and serves just as a gravity dust cover.  Polishing work will happen no where near the operating clock.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[wirespokes]

I'll have to try tomato sauce - hadn't heard that before.

As for stuff you can buy, Wrights Copper Polish from the supermarket is all I use. 

[DoubleGuzzi]

I'll have to try tomato sauce..

Not a fan of ketchup myself, preferring brown sauce, but it cleans copper/brass well. 

[Tom]

Imagine what it does to your insides.     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.