Brass Antique

How To Restore Brass

alloys that has been used throughout history.~Brass is used in just about every composition you can think of where a beautiful finish is required.~Did you know that brass is one of the best metals to repair?}  flexibility and shine, brass is used for everything from household items to hardware and tools.~Since it is so malleable, brass can take on just about any shape or form.~Since it is a flexible material, brass can be used in a array of settings.} To make your brass look its best, you should learn how to properly polish it. Antique brass can gleam and glisten like fresh brass if you incorporate the following 3 simple techniques.

 

Step 1

The first thing that you have to do is clean your brass to prepare it for buffing. If you have antique brass, this may be a critical step in the process. In order for your brass to be properly polished, it must be in its original state. All paint must be removed from the material before it can be restored. To clean the brass, begin by dunking it in warm, soapy water. This is the most gentle method to make sure the brass is not damaged. If your brass has been protected by lacquer or paint, you will need a more effective technique to properly clean it. After removing surface oil and dust with the soapy water, it may be required to soak your brass in lacquer thinner overnight. To remove the lacquer, use a nylon bristle brush the following day after it has soaked in a gentle, circular motion. The lacquer should now be gel like in texture, and easily removed from the brass. It is important to be very thorough, and remove every bit of lacquer to get the best results. If you don’t want to wait that long, you can also purchase paint stripper. This usually comes in a spray can, and is far more effective than regular lacquer thinner is. After spraying a thick layer of stripper on the brass, and letting it work for an hour or two, scrub it with a nylon brush and rinse it under water. Repeat several times if necessary. Once your brass is smooth, and in its original form, you are ready to polish it. At this point, you can no longer handle the brass with your hands. Doing so can leave fingerprints which stain the brass and leave fingerprint shaped patina spots on the brass. Wear dry rubber gloves and soft cotton gloves to handle the material.

 

Step 2

To polish your antique brass, the best method is to use a rotary buffer or grinder with buffing attachment. Begin by adding a heavy cut polishing substrate to the wheel, and polish every irregularity of your brass in the same direction to prevent lines from forming. You will need to keep adding polishing compound after every few passes to make sure you do the best job possible. After the brass has looks shiny and smooth, change to a lower grit compound, such as tripoli. Again, buff every square inch of brass until it is reflective. If you want to get a professional finish, you can use a very low abrasive compound, such as rouge or low-grit black magic, and buff it one last time. This will make your brass less yellow and more white, and it is the best result you can get. While you are using the buffer, you must make sure to keep your skin off of the brass, and keep the brass out of humid conditions. Keep a soft cloth handy to gently remove excess polishing compound during the process.

 

Step 3

Now, you must remove dirt and grease again. Polishing compound is hard to notice if your brass has been completely finished on the buffer, but if you take a white cloth and wipe your brass with it, it will expose how dirty the brass is. For this step, use a chemical cleaner such as diluted acetone or carburetor cleaner and a cutip to dissolve any remaining compound. At this point, your brass is finished, and even antique brass looks like new.

 

How To Clean Antique Brass