We have a brass lamp that separates into 4 pieces and needs to be
refinished.
I believe there is a finish coat on it, like a lacquer to keep in from
tarnishing.
There are spots on the lamp that can only be removed with fine finishing
sand paper.
With lots of irregular areas I am wondering if you know of any way I may
clean this lamp up to original brass finish ?
Then most likely need to put another protective coat of material..just
looking for some ideas here...
many thanks
jimmy

jimmy wrote the following:
We have a brass lamp that separates into 4 pieces and needs to be
refinished.
I believe there is a finish coat on it, like a lacquer to keep in from
tarnishing.
There are spots on the lamp that can only be removed with fine finishing
sand paper.
With lots of irregular areas I am wondering if you know of any way I may
clean this lamp up to original brass finish ?
Then most likely need to put another protective coat of material..just
looking for some ideas here...
many thanks
jimmy

http://www.ehow.com/how_4499916_remo...rom-brass.html
You can recoat it after polishing the brass, or leave the finish off and
just polish it once a year or so.


--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

jimmy wrote:
We have a brass lamp that separates into 4 pieces and needs to be
refinished.
I believe there is a finish coat on it, like a lacquer to keep in from
tarnishing.
There are spots on the lamp that can only be removed with fine finishing
sand paper.
With lots of irregular areas I am wondering if you know of any way I may
clean this lamp up to original brass finish ?
Then most likely need to put another protective coat of material..just
looking for some ideas here...
many thanks
jimmy


Assume it is solid brass, not plated. If plated, results usually not
great. Use paint remover to remove the clear coat. Clean with Brasso,
per label instructions and polish with clean, soft cloth. Very fine
steel wool can be used with Brasso for deeper oxidation. Clean very
well and don't handle with bare hands, spray with clear coat right away
after cleaning.

On 4/5/2010 10:17 AM spake thus:

jimmy wrote:

We have a brass lamp that separates into 4 pieces and needs to be
refinished. I believe there is a finish coat on it, like a lacquer
to keep in from tarnishing. There are spots on the lamp that can
only be removed with fine finishing sand paper. With lots of
irregular areas I am wondering if you know of any way I may clean
this lamp up to original brass finish ? Then most likely need to
put another protective coat of material..just looking for some
ideas here...

Assume it is solid brass, not plated. If plated, results usually not
great. Use paint remover to remove the clear coat. Clean with Brasso,
per label instructions and polish with clean, soft cloth. Very fine
steel wool can be used with Brasso for deeper oxidation. Clean very
well and don't handle with bare hands, spray with clear coat right away
after cleaning.

Yes. Whatever you do, *don't* use sandpaper! That'll pretty much run the
finish.

You may not need to use paint remover: you might try using lacquer
thinner with rags, since lacquer dissolves pretty easily. A judgement
call on your part. If you use the thinner, probably best to do it outdoors.

If there's oxidation or discoloration, I use vinegar on brass. It takes
it right off. Just let it soak in full strength white vinegar for
several hours. Then rinse it off and use Brasso, or your preferred metal
polish.


--
You were wrong, and I'm man enough to admit it.

- a Usenet "apology"

On Apr 5, 4:39*pm, David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 4/5/2010 10:17 AM spake thus:







jimmy wrote:

We have a brass lamp that separates into 4 pieces and needs to be
refinished. I believe there is a finish coat on it, like a lacquer
to keep in from tarnishing. There are spots on the lamp that can
only be removed with fine finishing sand paper. With lots of
irregular areas I am wondering if you know of any way I may clean
this lamp up to original brass finish ? Then most likely need to
put another protective coat of material..just looking for some
ideas here...

Assume it is solid brass, not plated. *If plated, results usually not
great. *Use paint remover to remove the clear coat. *Clean with Brasso,
per label instructions and polish with clean, soft cloth. *Very fine
steel wool can be used with Brasso for deeper oxidation. *Clean very
well and don't handle with bare hands, spray with clear coat right away
after cleaning.

Yes. Whatever you do, *don't* use sandpaper! That'll pretty much run the
finish.

You may not need to use paint remover: you might try using lacquer
thinner with rags, since lacquer dissolves pretty easily. A judgement
call on your part. If you use the thinner, probably best to do it outdoors.

If there's oxidation or discoloration, I use vinegar on brass. It takes
it right off. Just let it soak in full strength white vinegar for
several hours. Then rinse it off and use Brasso, or your preferred metal
polish.

*fine* sandpaper is OK, if used sparingly. And by "fine," I mean 1000
grit or finer, used wet.

I agree that that should only be used if the tarnish is so bad that
vinegar followed by machine polishing won't take it off.

I have some experience with this, having repolished some solid brass
switch plates for my house (ones that were too unattractively
tarnished to use "as is.")

Now, of course, I would *prefer* that they all have a nice even brown
tarnish, but haven't been motivated enough to actually start
experimenting on them to find the best way to do this.

nate

N8N wrote:
On Apr 5, 4:39 pm, David Nebenzahl wrote:

On 4/5/2010 10:17 AM spake thus:








jimmy wrote:

We have a brass lamp that separates into 4 pieces and needs to be
refinished. I believe there is a finish coat on it, like a lacquer
to keep in from tarnishing. There are spots on the lamp that can
only be removed with fine finishing sand paper. With lots of
irregular areas I am wondering if you know of any way I may clean
this lamp up to original brass finish ? Then most likely need to
put another protective coat of material..just looking for some
ideas here...

Assume it is solid brass, not plated. If plated, results usually not
great. Use paint remover to remove the clear coat. Clean with Brasso,
per label instructions and polish with clean, soft cloth. Very fine
steel wool can be used with Brasso for deeper oxidation. Clean very
well and don't handle with bare hands, spray with clear coat right away
after cleaning.

Yes. Whatever you do, *don't* use sandpaper! That'll pretty much run the
finish.

You may not need to use paint remover: you might try using lacquer
thinner with rags, since lacquer dissolves pretty easily. A judgement
call on your part. If you use the thinner, probably best to do it outdoors.

If there's oxidation or discoloration, I use vinegar on brass. It takes
it right off. Just let it soak in full strength white vinegar for
several hours. Then rinse it off and use Brasso, or your preferred metal
polish.


*fine* sandpaper is OK, if used sparingly. And by "fine," I mean 1000
grit or finer, used wet.

I agree that that should only be used if the tarnish is so bad that
vinegar followed by machine polishing won't take it off.

I have some experience with this, having repolished some solid brass
switch plates for my house (ones that were too unattractively
tarnished to use "as is.")

Now, of course, I would *prefer* that they all have a nice even brown
tarnish, but haven't been motivated enough to actually start
experimenting on them to find the best way to do this.

nate


I've always used "Liver-of-Sulphur" to put an antique finish on brass
(and copper) stuff. Available in arts and crafts stores all over:

http://www.dickblick.com/products/liver-of-sulphur/

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10e12 furlongs per fortnight.