Wussername Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 I have an old ships bell, a brass bell, which is somewhat tarnished. Should I leave it as is, or clean it. Shiny bright as I used to remember. If I decide to go the clean route how do go about it, wire wool grade 0000 I believe although that does seem a bit drastic to me. I really do not want to mess up. What other process should I consider. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Brasso and a soft cloth 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughan Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Try lemon juice and salt, for a start. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Try brown sauce and then polish or just leave the natural patina and wash with mild detergent and soft cloth. The natural finish will please MM . Colin p.s. You can use malt vinegar and a soft cloth to start with but I prefer to save it for my chips. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouldy Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 12 minutes ago, Islander said: . . . . .The natural finish will please MM . . . . . . . Is it not copper that goes green? 😁😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyMorgan Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Leave it in a bucket of 'Coke' for a few days. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Brass, a mix of copper and zinc. The ratio depending on purpose and manufacturer. Purity can make a difference as to how it ages and it’s scrap value. Then you still have bronze and gunmetal with all the variations and % of other metals. IMHO just polish it unless it’s comes from a historical ship. Colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CambridgeCabby Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Bar Keepers metal polish , excellent product 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Brasso and elbow-grease or a cotton polishing wheel with a stick of fine polishing compound. Once you have it shiny, be prepared to repeat the polishing process again and again and again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Autosol chrome polish on a buffing wheel, I bought a steam engine boiler from black to polished using this in a dremel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaceSwinger Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 2 hours ago, grendel said: Autosol chrome polish on a buffing wheel, I bought a steam engine boiler from black to polished using this in a dremel Autosol is what I use on my brasses and have done for years. Coke bath to strip the worst of the tarnishing (and any nasty "staybrite" lacquer) off, then a good going over with Autosol. And bog standard Brasso for maintenance. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyMorgan Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Just a thought, I used T-Cut on a really rough old lamp, that brought it back to life a treat! Might not be a recommended technique but that was what I had to hand and the lamp was not exactly precious. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaceSwinger Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 1 hour ago, JennyMorgan said: Just a thought, I used T-Cut on a really rough old lamp, that brought it back to life a treat! Might not be a recommended technique but that was what I had to hand and the lamp was not exactly precious. To be fair, T-Cut is a polish all polishes work on a similar principle, a mild (or micro) abrasive to wear off the tarnish. Albeit on T-Cut it works more by smoothing out marks in the clearcoat. I use Autosol first because it's a heavier duty abrasive than Brasso, but Brasso to finish is a good shout. Much the same as when you compound your car (or gelcoat!), start with a heavier abrasive and work down to a finish. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanetAnne Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 If it helps, Brasso is finer than T Cut so will be a bit kinder to the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floydraser Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Blimey it's confusing... please put the following in order of abrasiveness, if that's even a word: Brasso, T-Cut, cutting compound, Cif (Jif or cream cleaner), Vim, lemon juice & salt, your Grandad's flannelette nightshirt, and anything else found in the kitchen or garage. No prizes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 you missed out on toothpaste, essential for cleaning plastic headlight glasses 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulN Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 JennyMorgan If your Genie granted you 3 wishes, could you get rid of this virus please, so we can get back on our boats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyMorgan Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 1 hour ago, PaulN said: JennyMorgan If your Genie granted you 3 wishes, could you get rid of this virus please, so we can get back on our boats So long as I could choose which boat and owner combination to protect!! Wooden sailing boat owners would of course take priority, followed closely by those of classic Broads wooden motor cruisers. Perhaps, after a month or two, I would include the general riff-raff. Of course I jest, in reality I would . . . . . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTBoater Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Whack on three coats of black Hammerite. Saves all this cleaning malarkey. I did clean a brass thing once and tried everything. Ended up using "The Pink Stuff" £1 a pot from Lathams and other similar places. Its also great for GRP bits and a lot cheaper the G3 or G6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulN Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 Yes. We swear by The Pink Stuff, very low abraision and works wonders on the Fibreglass. Perhapd remove any hevy corrosion first, then give it a try. KM We have artificial teak decks, hope that fits in somewhere in your pecking order (tongue in cheek) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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