Brass cleaning

[ace]

Hi all
Does anyone out there now of a way to clean brass without using polishes etc! I have milled some brass caps and wish to leave the finished surface as it is. But over the past week it has dulled with me having to handle it.


Thanks
ACE

[Jo]

You could try foaming silver polish. It is used to clean finely detailed silver without abrasion leaving an anti tarnish layer behind. Nothing like as fast as Brasso though.

Jo

[felixbabble]

Hi,

one of the finest methods I have found is a product manufactured by Libron (furniture restoration products,polishes,waxes etc.) ,their rust remover acts like magic to remove tarnish and it also prevents it from coming back.Simply rub on with either a cloth or very fine wire wool 0000 grade is good and when dry (couple of mins.) it goes white powdery and all you do is again,rub with a clean cloth,excellent results with very little effort indeed.
Felix

[mmaidnz]

I doubt whether the surface wouls stay clean for long without some sort of protective layer.Clear laquer is commonly used on brass,and also polishes to a high shine.

[steam4ian]

G'day Ace.
Why don't you try a musical instrument store/shop? Particularly near the Yorkshire pits.

One good turn deserves another.
Regards,
Ian

[Uzzy]

They do say any sauce brown or red would do it.

[Jo]

The sauces are really just applying acetic acid (vinegar) the advantage is they stay put.

Which reminds me of that famous case on the Isle of Wigit where someone put hp sauce on a hot dome of a loco on its way to a formal opening. It did not turn up smelling of roses.

Jo

[ace]

Uzzy - Jo

I want to clean it not eat it!. ;D

Joking aside I have been told to use mustard before, just hoped that there was something simple like a liquid solution of some type. I am very happy with the machined result and didn't wish to lose it by polishing.

ACE

[spurley]

How about Cillit Bang! Barry Scot shouts about it!

Might work?

Cheers

Brian

[dickdastardly40]

How big are the parts?

Might be worth going to a proper jeweller and asking them to dunk them in their ultrasonic cleaning tank.

Al

[ace]

Hi Al

I have wondered about investing in one, they seem to be OK for cleaning small parts etc.

Thanks
ACE

[abby]

quote -Why don't you try a musical instrument store/shop? Particularly near the Yorkshire pits.
Are there any yorkshire pits ?

[AndrewP]

Ace
I use an ultrasonic everyday and whilst it will shift just about any dirt from tiny crevices etc I doubt it will affect tarnish on brass - it certainly doesn't on silver and gold!
If you do go for one avoid the small ones sold into the retail market for home cleaning of jewellery for 20 or 30 quid, they simply haven't got the oomph (sorry to be technical) .
Heating makes a BIG difference and you won't get a decent new one for less than £250. Ultrawave and Elma are decent brands, mines a Bandelin Sonorex but I'm a tight b*****r.
Personally I use very hot soapy water with a little ammonia added and a toothbrush. or the pressure washer if I can nail the bit down.

[steam4ian]

G'day Ace (again).
Andrew just mentioned ammonia. Ammonia really gets stuck into copper oxide so it may be just the cleaner you are looking for and it would be available in the supermarket.
Years ago there were 02 analisers which measure the 02 concentration by passing it over copper wire coils with had been cleaner by an ammonia solution. There was some kind of titration to measure the amount of copper oxide formed and the O2 concentration was deduced from that. I saw these in use in the oxygen plant at the steel works where my engineering life began.

Nothing to loose by trying it.

Regards,
Ian

[dickdastardly40]

Ultrasonic cleaners can be used with other solvents than water, ie acidic or alkali dependant on what is considered the best liquid.

A good tip is to suspend a smaller container with the solvent in it into the water of the main tank. That way any gunk removed is contained in the smaller vessel and you can also do two different solvents at once.

As mentioned heat is also good, if you cant afford a cleaner with a heater there is nothing to stop you from adding water from the kettle. Ensure you 'degas' it first for 10 minutes before adding the items.

Al

[ace]

Hi all

Thanks for the replies, I certainly have a lot to try out over the next few weeks

Cheers

ACE