Hi,

This is probably a stupidly simple question but it would be good to
have some recomendations before delving into the various products on
the market.

Basically I have what I think is a brass letter box on my front door
and it is tarnished and no longer shiney. I have attem,pted to clean
it with vinegar to no avail. Has anyone used any of the products on
the market such as Brasso and what works best to polish it back to a
full shine?

Thanks

On Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:52:52 -0700 (PDT), Thomarse
wrote:

Hi,

This is probably a stupidly simple question but it would be good to
have some recomendations before delving into the various products on
the market.

Basically I have what I think is a brass letter box on my front door
and it is tarnished and no longer shiney. I have attem,pted to clean
it with vinegar to no avail. Has anyone used any of the products on
the market such as Brasso and what works best to polish it back to a
full shine?


See other answers but ...

If it's got the residue of old laquer on it, first boil it in a
saucepan with a teaspoon of Bi-Carbonate of Soda.

Also works for old alarm clocks. (Clockwork ones, natch.)

Derek

On Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:52:52 -0700 (PDT), Thomarse wrote:

Has anyone used any of the products on the market such as Brasso and
what works best to polish it back to a full shine?

Brasso/Duraglit works well but be aware that it will leave a white
residue on the timber surround unless you are very careful not to get
it on there or wash it away throughly after polishing.

Also bare brass will soon tarnish again so unless you want to be for
ever poslishing you really need to remove it, strip off any old
lacquer, polish it then relacquer. Personally I like the patina of
brass that is used.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On 21/09/09 19:52, Thomarse wrote:
Hi,

This is probably a stupidly simple question but it would be good to
have some recomendations before delving into the various products on
the market.

Basically I have what I think is a brass letter box on my front door
and it is tarnished and no longer shiney. I have attem,pted to clean
it with vinegar to no avail.

A lemon sliced in half dipped in copious amounts of salt, rub it in,
leave awhile (but not until it dries) wear rubber gloves if you've got
any cuts on your hands ... then polish with brasso, duraglit etc.

In message
,
Thomarse writes
Hi,

This is probably a stupidly simple question but it would be good to
have some recomendations before delving into the various products on
the market.

Basically I have what I think is a brass letter box on my front door
and it is tarnished and no longer shiney. I have attem,pted to clean
it with vinegar to no avail. Has anyone used any of the products on
the market such as Brasso and what works best to polish it back to a
full shine?

Http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-clean-brass

There is a commercial first

Keep a special look out for a brass plated item.

--
PK
pauldotkellyatmcbdotnet

Thomarse wrote:
Hi,

This is probably a stupidly simple question but it would be good to
have some recomendations before delving into the various products on
the market.

Basically I have what I think is a brass letter box on my front door
and it is tarnished and no longer shiney. I have attem,pted to clean
it with vinegar to no avail. Has anyone used any of the products on
the market such as Brasso and what works best to polish it back to a
full shine?

Peek metal polish is the mutts nuts. Fantastic stuff
http://www.thepolishingshop.co.uk/ac..._Cleaning.html


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 21 Sep, 19:52, Thomarse wrote:
Hi,

This is probably a stupidly simple question but it would be good to
have some recomendations before delving into the various products on
the market.

Basically I have what I think is a brass letter box on my front door
and it is tarnished and no longer shiney. I have attem,pted to clean
it with vinegar to no avail. Has anyone used any of the products on
the market such as Brasso and what works best to polish it back to a
full shine?

Thanks

Lemon juice is pretty good
Chris

In article
,
Thomarse wrote:
Basically I have what I think is a brass letter box on my front door
and it is tarnished and no longer shiney. I have attem,pted to clean
it with vinegar to no avail. Has anyone used any of the products on
the market such as Brasso and what works best to polish it back to a
full shine?

Vinegar first *will* help as it breaks down the hard oxide and makes
polishing by hand easier. But doesn't give a shine on itself.
I use Solvol Autosol - car chrome cleaner. If you want the shine to last
longer after polishing wipe it over with a solvent then spray with clear
lacquer. You'll get both in Halfords, etc.

If you can remove it easily and you have a Dremmel type tool, using a felt
disc and the above chrome cleaner cuts down on the elbow grease. But can
be messy.

--
*Dance like nobody's watching.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
invalid wrote:
Http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-clean-brass

There is a commercial first

Keep a special look out for a brass plated item.

Tells you sweet FA.

--
*Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 21 Sep, 19:52, Thomarse wrote:

Basically I have what I think is a brass letter box on my front door
and it is tarnished and no longer shiney.

Ideally take it off to work on - saves scratching the wood, leaving
deposits behind and allows soaking.

Start out with Nitromors, because any paint splashes there happen to
be will retard other cleaning and look very obvious afterwards.

Salt and vinegar. Make a paste of the two, then leave it to soak for
a day or two. Salt acts as a scouring agent, but the chemistry is
important too. Be careful using this on bronze though (vinegar is OK,
chlorides are the problem). Rinse well afterwards. I'd also remove any
steel springs or bolts beforehand.

If it's cast, then it's time for either Nitromors (easiest source of
dichloromethane) or citrus engine degreaser in an ultrasonic bath to
get the nooks and crannies out. Otherwise move in with a dental
hygienist, as they positively relish this sort of task!

If it's big, smooth and a thick cast section then bring the big guns
out and simply repolish the lot with a couple of Garryflex abrasive
blocks. Dead handy, but you are removing metal.

For a final polish, you can use Brasso (tripoli in a carrier) but be
wary of this if you're going to lacquer afterwards. The ammonia can be
a problem and lead to splotching - personally I'd just use bare
tripoli wetted with a bit of meths and white spirit.

For lacquering afterwards, yoiu really need to use the right stuff -
Brass is a pig for adhesion with any paint or lacquer. The right stuff
is a methacrylate solution lacquer, which you can get from Rustins via
Axminster.

On Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:11:24 +0100, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

In article
,
Thomarse wrote:
Basically I have what I think is a brass letter box on my front door
and it is tarnished and no longer shiney. I have attem,pted to clean it
with vinegar to no avail. Has anyone used any of the products on the
market such as Brasso and what works best to polish it back to a full
shine?

Vinegar first *will* help as it breaks down the hard oxide and makes
polishing by hand easier. But doesn't give a shine on itself.
I use Solvol Autosol - car chrome cleaner. If you want the shine to
last
longer after polishing wipe it over with a solvent then spray with clear
lacquer. You'll get both in Halfords, etc.

If you can remove it easily and you have a Dremmel type tool, using a
felt disc and the above chrome cleaner cuts down on the elbow grease.
But can be messy.

I've just got some felt discs to do just this. I didn't realise Solvol
Autosol still existed - I must have last used it in about 1972...!



--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

On 22 Sep, 09:11, "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

*I use Solvol Autosol - car chrome cleaner.

Autosol is chrome cleaner, so it's a harder abrasive than you need for
brass. You will find that it's hard on fine details in castings.

In article
,
Andy Dingley wrote:
I use Solvol Autosol - car chrome cleaner.

Autosol is chrome cleaner, so it's a harder abrasive than you need for
brass. You will find that it's hard on fine details in castings.

Aren't all abrasives hard?

I'm sure you're right for rare and expensive antiques but for the stuff
most will have it works faster than Brasso or Duraglit.

--
*If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In message , Bob Eager
writes

I didn't realise Solvol
Autosol still existed - I must have last used it in about 1972...!

I'm still using the remnants of a tube I probably bought in 1972 :-)

Got green stamps then, too.
--
Graeme

On Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:52:05 +0100, Graeme wrote:

In message , Bob Eager
writes

I didn't realise Solvol
Autosol still existed - I must have last used it in about 1972...!

I'm still using the remnants of a tube I probably bought in 1972 :-)

Got green stamps then, too.

So did I. Used the Autosol for polishing the engine casing of my Honda
CB72...



--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org