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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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Cleaning Copper
Hi
I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk |
#2
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Any HCl solution will dissolve copper oxides and other verdegris without
touching the metal (being a noble metal). Muriatic acid cut 1:3 will do it just fine. Mind to rinse it very well (first with a mild baking soda solution) and wear protection because HCl is a strong mineral acid. Instead of vinegar + lemon juice, you should try vinegar concentrated with salt. Leave it in for a few days to a week (make sure to fully submerge it!) and it's good as new. Beware of bimetallic things like pots and pans with copper bottoms, the stainless will corrode away with HCl and probably cause electrolytic corrosion in the sour salt solution. Tim -- "California is the breakfast state: fruits, nuts and flakes." Website: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms "Two and a Half" wrote in message ... Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk |
#3
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"Two and a Half" wrote in message ... Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk Along with Tim's excellent advice, one can clean copper with dilute sulfuric acid as well. It, too, dissolves oxides of copper, but not the copper itself. Great care must be used so you don't destroy things with the acid. It's not as forgiving as HCL. Only copper can be inserted, not brass, or anything ferrous. Harold |
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On Sat, 28 May 2005 17:31:43 +0100, "Two and a Half"
wrote: Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk The advice you've gotten is good, but let me add one bit of caution about hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid). If you store it indoors, even in a sealed plastic jug it will cause severe rusting of all steel and iron in the vicinity. I set my jugs of muriatic acid into a plastic bucket kept outdoors. To keep out the rain and dirt, I cover all that with a larger bucket, turned upside down. Besides the storage issues, there are a whole bunch of safety precautions you must use when handling any strong acid. If you're not familiar with them, ask for help from someone that is. Best regards, Orrin |
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"Orrin Iseminger" wrote in message ... On Sat, 28 May 2005 17:31:43 +0100, "Two and a Half" wrote: Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk The advice you've gotten is good, but let me add one bit of caution about hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid). If you store it indoors, even in a sealed plastic jug it will cause severe rusting of all steel and iron in the vicinity. I set my jugs of muriatic acid into a plastic bucket kept outdoors. To keep out the rain and dirt, I cover all that with a larger bucket, turned upside down. Besides the storage issues, there are a whole bunch of safety precautions you must use when handling any strong acid. If you're not familiar with them, ask for help from someone that is. Best regards, Orrin Yep! Harold |
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Two and a Half wrote:
Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk At the risk of stating either the obvious or the inappropriate: there are a number of copper-cleaning compounds sold for kitchen pots and pans. No safety issues, rinse off easily. Cost more than mixing your own but are quick, risk-free and easy. Don't know about you but I often find myself reinventing wheels, then kicking myself for the lost time. -- Fred R ________________ Drop TROU to email. |
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"Fred R" "spam wrote in message ... Two and a Half wrote: Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk At the risk of stating either the obvious or the inappropriate: there are a number of copper-cleaning compounds sold for kitchen pots and pans. No safety issues, rinse off easily. Cost more than mixing your own but are quick, risk-free and easy. Don't know about you but I often find myself reinventing wheels, then kicking myself for the lost time. -- Fred R ________________ Drop TROU to email. I can't help but agree, but the acid process can be more aggressive for those cases where the chore at hand is extreme. For instance, you can clean beryllium copper after heat treat and have it look great. That's assuming you don't have a controlled atmosphere furnace at your disposal, and I don't. After silver soldering, too. Harold Harold |
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Harold and Susan Vordos wrote:
"Fred R" "spam wrote in message ... Two and a Half wrote: Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk At the risk of stating either the obvious or the inappropriate: there are a number of copper-cleaning compounds sold for kitchen pots and pans. No safety issues, rinse off easily. Cost more than mixing your own but are quick, risk-free and easy. Don't know about you but I often find myself reinventing wheels, then kicking myself for the lost time. -- Fred R ________________ Drop TROU to email. I can't help but agree, but the acid process can be more aggressive for those cases where the chore at hand is extreme. For instance, you can clean beryllium copper after heat treat and have it look great. That's assuming you don't have a controlled atmosphere furnace at your disposal, and I don't. After silver soldering, too. Harold Harold How about Brasso - used by every service person for years on their brass. Sold where good food is. Martin -- Martin Eastburn @ home at Lion's Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net NRA LOH, NRA Life NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
#9
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On Sat, 28 May 2005 17:31:43 +0100, "Two and a Half"
wrote: Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk Household products (Wal-Mart, aka ASDA in the UK): Twinkle Brasso Auto Store or possibly B&Q: Flitz Mother's metal polish Simichrome |
#10
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"lionslair at consolidated dot net" "lionslair at consolidated dot net" wrote in message ... Harold and Susan Vordos wrote: "Fred R" "spam wrote in message ... Two and a Half wrote: Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk At the risk of stating either the obvious or the inappropriate: there are a number of copper-cleaning compounds sold for kitchen pots and pans. No safety issues, rinse off easily. Cost more than mixing your own but are quick, risk-free and easy. Don't know about you but I often find myself reinventing wheels, then kicking myself for the lost time. -- Fred R ________________ Drop TROU to email. I can't help but agree, but the acid process can be more aggressive for those cases where the chore at hand is extreme. For instance, you can clean beryllium copper after heat treat and have it look great. That's assuming you don't have a controlled atmosphere furnace at your disposal, and I don't. After silver soldering, too. Harold Harold How about Brasso - used by every service person for years on their brass. Sold where good food is. Martin -- Chuckle! Brasso? I spent 6 years of my life with Brasso, polising my brass while in the Utah National Guard. Acid works much easier! g Harold |
#11
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Thanks for all your suggestions.
I have found that Brasso is fine for some of the small pieces and works really well, but some of the copper I have are in the form of sculptures and are left outside and the normal green patination occurs.... brasso is fine to remove this on a small piece but on a larger one I would be there till kingdom come. I reckon that I will have to go for the drastic route and get some acid solution with the appropriate protective gear. Thanks for all your help. Craig "Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote in message ... "lionslair at consolidated dot net" "lionslair at consolidated dot net" wrote in message ... Harold and Susan Vordos wrote: "Fred R" "spam wrote in message ... Two and a Half wrote: Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk At the risk of stating either the obvious or the inappropriate: there are a number of copper-cleaning compounds sold for kitchen pots and pans. No safety issues, rinse off easily. Cost more than mixing your own but are quick, risk-free and easy. Don't know about you but I often find myself reinventing wheels, then kicking myself for the lost time. -- Fred R ________________ Drop TROU to email. I can't help but agree, but the acid process can be more aggressive for those cases where the chore at hand is extreme. For instance, you can clean beryllium copper after heat treat and have it look great. That's assuming you don't have a controlled atmosphere furnace at your disposal, and I don't. After silver soldering, too. Harold Harold How about Brasso - used by every service person for years on their brass. Sold where good food is. Martin -- Chuckle! Brasso? I spent 6 years of my life with Brasso, polising my brass while in the Utah National Guard. Acid works much easier! g Harold |
#12
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"Two and a Half" wrote in message ... Thanks for all your suggestions. I have found that Brasso is fine for some of the small pieces and works really well, but some of the copper I have are in the form of sculptures and are left outside and the normal green patination occurs.... brasso is fine to remove this on a small piece but on a larger one I would be there till kingdom come. I reckon that I will have to go for the drastic route and get some acid solution with the appropriate protective gear. Thanks for all your help. Craig I have to ask why you are removing the patina on an outdoor sculpture? Most people like it and want it. Keeping it shiny over the years will be a lot of work. Lane |
#13
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Harold and Susan Vordos wrote:
"lionslair at consolidated dot net" "lionslair at consolidated dot net" wrote in message ... Harold and Susan Vordos wrote: "Fred R" "spam wrote in message ... Two and a Half wrote: Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk At the risk of stating either the obvious or the inappropriate: there are a number of copper-cleaning compounds sold for kitchen pots and pans. No safety issues, rinse off easily. Cost more than mixing your own but are quick, risk-free and easy. Don't know about you but I often find myself reinventing wheels, then kicking myself for the lost time. -- Fred R ________________ Drop TROU to email. I can't help but agree, but the acid process can be more aggressive for those cases where the chore at hand is extreme. For instance, you can clean beryllium copper after heat treat and have it look great. That's assuming you don't have a controlled atmosphere furnace at your disposal, and I don't. After silver soldering, too. Harold Harold How about Brasso - used by every service person for years on their brass. Sold where good food is. Martin -- Chuckle! Brasso? I spent 6 years of my life with Brasso, polising my brass while in the Utah National Guard. Acid works much easier! g Harold I understand Harold - two with one blow - finger prints and brass work. :-) If brass is really bad, green pad, then acid clean, then Brasso polish. There is another polish - sold in Autopart stores - Al polish - I highly suspect it is diatamatious(sp) earth in a wax. Great polish for most every thing... Martin -- Martin Eastburn @ home at Lion's Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net NRA LOH, NRA Life NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
#14
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Two and a Half wrote:
Thanks for all your suggestions. I have found that Brasso is fine for some of the small pieces and works really well, but some of the copper I have are in the form of sculptures and are left outside and the normal green patination occurs.... brasso is fine to remove this on a small piece but on a larger one I would be there till kingdom come. I reckon that I will have to go for the drastic route and get some acid solution with the appropriate protective gear. Thanks for all your help. Craig "Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote in message ... "lionslair at consolidated dot net" "lionslair at consolidated dot net" wrote in message ... Harold and Susan Vordos wrote: "Fred R" "spam wrote in message m... Two and a Half wrote: Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk At the risk of stating either the obvious or the inappropriate: there are a number of copper-cleaning compounds sold for kitchen pots and pans. No safety issues, rinse off easily. Cost more than mixing your own but are quick, risk-free and easy. Don't know about you but I often find myself reinventing wheels, then kicking myself for the lost time. -- Fred R ________________ Drop TROU to email. I can't help but agree, but the acid process can be more aggressive for those cases where the chore at hand is extreme. For instance, you can clean beryllium copper after heat treat and have it look great. That's assuming you don't have a controlled atmosphere furnace at your disposal, and I don't. After silver soldering, too. Harold Harold How about Brasso - used by every service person for years on their brass. Sold where good food is. Martin -- Chuckle! Brasso? I spent 6 years of my life with Brasso, polising my brass while in the Utah National Guard. Acid works much easier! g Harold Trying to take the magic color off ? hum. Martin -- Martin Eastburn @ home at Lion's Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net NRA LOH, NRA Life NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
#15
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For cleaning large pieces of copper the cheapest is to use battery
acid. Other wise known as sulfuric acid. You can buy a box of it from any auto parts store for about $5. You need to dilute to a 1 part acid and 9 parts water. Always add the acid to the water. So the little box will make about 2 gallons. You can use a spray bottle and spray the mixture on the copper. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and rinse. Use a scotchbrite pad if needed for heavy deposits. Wear goggles and rubber gloves. If you get any on your clothes it will make holes. If available you can mix up in a 5 gallon plastic bucket and let the parts soak. If smaller pieces you can buy a little bottle of TarnX. More than the whole box of acid. lionslair at consolidated dot net wrote: Two and a Half wrote: Thanks for all your suggestions. I have found that Brasso is fine for some of the small pieces and works really well, but some of the copper I have are in the form of sculptures and are left outside and the normal green patination occurs.... brasso is fine to remove this on a small piece but on a larger one I would be there till kingdom come. I reckon that I will have to go for the drastic route and get some acid solution with the appropriate protective gear. Thanks for all your help. Craig "Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote in message ... "lionslair at consolidated dot net" "lionslair at consolidated dot net" wrote in message ... Harold and Susan Vordos wrote: "Fred R" "spam wrote in message m... Two and a Half wrote: Hi I am in need of some advice for cleaning copper. I have used a vinegar and lemon juice solution but it seems to leave a slight discolouration on the copper and as well as smelling a bit rank it still requires some removal of the surface debris by hand. I have heard that hydrochloric acid is a better solution to use but I have no idea what percentage strength it would have to be or if there are any other better solutions available to buy and/or mix. Any advice would be appreciated Craig www.twoandahalf.co.uk At the risk of stating either the obvious or the inappropriate: there are a number of copper-cleaning compounds sold for kitchen pots and pans. No safety issues, rinse off easily. Cost more than mixing your own but are quick, risk-free and easy. Don't know about you but I often find myself reinventing wheels, then kicking myself for the lost time. -- Fred R ________________ Drop TROU to email. I can't help but agree, but the acid process can be more aggressive for those cases where the chore at hand is extreme. For instance, you can clean beryllium copper after heat treat and have it look great. That's assuming you don't have a controlled atmosphere furnace at your disposal, and I don't. After silver soldering, too. Harold Harold How about Brasso - used by every service person for years on their brass. Sold where good food is. Martin -- Chuckle! Brasso? I spent 6 years of my life with Brasso, polising my brass while in the Utah National Guard. Acid works much easier! g Harold Trying to take the magic color off ? hum. Martin -- Martin Eastburn @ home at Lion's Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net NRA LOH, NRA Life NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
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