how to clean metal

[chipy]

hey all

i have this huge brass piece (or at least i think its brass) that has a bunch of fingerprints and smudges on it. i tried cleaning it with a wet towel but that doesn't do much. any suggestions on products or techniques? i know ATOT is a diverse crowd... someone's bound to know the secrets of life 🙂

thanks
chipy

 

[jds2006]

I think you can buy cleaning solution for that.

 

[Eli]

More info on what exactly this is? Does it have a natural patina, or what?

If it's just general dirt and fingerprints, an alcohol soaked terrycloth should work well.....

 

[slick230]

Brasso is your friend

 

[chipy]

Originally posted by: Eli
More info on what exactly this is? Does it have a natural patina, or what?

If it's just general dirt and fingerprints, an alcohol soaked terrycloth should work well.....

it's an ammo shell... a really really big one.

also thanks to slick230 for the product recommendation.

chipy

 

[slick230]

Originally posted by: chipy

Originally posted by: Eli
More info on what exactly this is? Does it have a natural patina, or what?

If it's just general dirt and fingerprints, an alcohol soaked terrycloth should work well.....

it's an ammo shell... a really really big one.

also thanks to slick230 for the product recommendation.

chipy

Brasso works wonders. We went through the stuff like it was water when I was in the Army. Used it for cleaning belt buckles, insignia, doorknobs, plumbing fixtures, etc.

 

[huesmann]

You could try vinegar too.

 

[imported_Pablo]

I used a dremel and a polishing head and polishing compound to polish an old 50mm shell casing... might want to laquer it, because it tarnished in like a month.

 

[2cpuminimum]

Just never use bleach, it's highly corrossive.

 

[Ryan]

Ummm - brass polish. You can buy it at lowes and stuff.

 

[imported_LoKe]

I think ketchup would work, since it is high in acids. It works on copper, atleast.

 

[MX2]

http://www.nevrdull.com/

 

[biostud]

Mix HCl and HNO3 in 4M solutions, works great on gold as well.

 

[chipy]

all great suggestions

nevrdull, vinegar, ketchup, dremel, even what biostud said... i'll have to look up those mixes... not sure what they are.

thanks all... i think i'll try each and every one of those techniques... maybe i'll make a "results" post to see which one worked the best.

thanks again

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: chipy
all great suggestions

nevrdull, vinegar, ketchup, dremel, even what biostud said... i'll have to look up those mixes... not sure what they are.

thanks all... i think i'll try each and every one of those techniques... maybe i'll make a "results" post to see which one worked the best.

thanks again

Just do a google on Aqua Regia before you try my suggestion 😛

 

[chipy]

ok guys... i got to try a few solutions and here are the results:

vinegar: doesn't work at all.

brasso: definitely works.

ketchup: amazingly works!!!

thanks for all suggestions.
chipy