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Robert Erickson's personal tips and help guide for the Handyman
Welcome to My HandymanPage!
This page is my attempt to gather information, links, etc for all who are interested in home improvement. Please feel free to e-mail me at: roberterickson7@hotmail.com with NEW articles, links etc. Check back with this site often as I will update it as often as I can. Enjoy the web site!
Home Improvement - METALS - TARNISHED BRASS
Tarnished Brass
Unlacquered brass tarnishes when exposed to air. A
weekly wiping with a little liquid ammonia on a soft
cloth will help keep unlacquered brass shiny. Use a
commercial cleaner (available in grocery or hardware
stores) or a homemade cleaner (see below) to remove
tarnish. On antique brass, test the cleaning product to
be sure of obtaining the desired effect. Some methods not
only clean tarnish but also remove the mellow coloring of
age that is desirable on old drawer pulls and other
accessories.
To polish antique brass pieces: wash in hot, soapy
water to remove grime, wax, etc. Rinse and dry. Moisten a
soft cloth with boiled linseed oil and rub on the brass
surface until all the dirt and grease have been removed.
Polish with a soft cloth. Very old brass items,
especially if in poor condition, require special care.
Consult museum experts for advice.
To polish for a soft finish: wash in hot, soapy
water, rinse and dry. Make a paste of whiting and boiled
linseed oil. Apply with a soft cloth and rub to remove
tarnish. Wipe off excess paste and polish with a clean
cloth.
To remove heavy tarnish, difficult stains and
corrosion: wash in hot, soapy water or a weak ammonia and
water solution and rinse. Dampen a soft cloth in hot
vinegar, then dip in table salt and rub the brass, or
make a paste of flour, salt and vinegar. You may need
several applications. When the item is clean, wash in
hot, soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly, then polish
with a cloth moistened with lemon oil. If preferred, dip
a slice of fresh lemon into table salt and rub over the
corroded area. Wash, rinse and dry carefully.
Brass andirons and fire sets that have been
neglected require special treatment. They can be rubbed
with extra-fine steel wool (0000); however, this requires
much time and work. Very fine emery cloth will give
quicker results, but the metal must be rubbed in only one
direction, do not use a circular motion. When clean,
polish with a brass polish. Some commercial polishes do
not require rinsing, so follow label directions. If this
doesn't work, spray with black or brass colored paint in
a pressurized can.
From Maryland
Extension bulletin, Caring for Your Valuables: Brass,
Copper, Pewter, Silver Tin.
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