Cleaning very thick tarnish off brass

[Ton-up]

As per the title really, best way of cleaning very thick tarnish/oxide layer off brass ready for polishing. I'd like to clean up an old Tilly lamp that was my Dads. It has been in a damp shed for 50 odd years so has a very thick coating.
Is vinegar/salt etc the best way still?

Thanks.

 

[fizzy]

I use Solvol Autosol - works very well.

 

[Shedendman]

Just good old brasso and elbow grease,instead of rag/cloth,do the first clean using card or paper,once the worse is off then go over again using cloth

 

[gordon stephenson]

A long time ago I saw a demo and gave it a try, Worked great, Plastic bowl, piece of aluminium sheet in the bowl,( even a couple of layers of ali foil will work. hot water in the bowl to cover the item and a handful of washing soda. the item must be in good contact with the aluminium, just keep checking but it doesn't take long, Same procedure can be used with excellent results on gold and silver.

 

[colnerov]

I use Solvol Autosol - works very well.

Hi, I can second that, I've just been doing that with all sorts of brassware recently, although elbow grease is also required.

Colin

 

[TechnicAl]

Nitric Acid does it even when its that dry black tarnish...but be careful it soon goes through it....where you might get it, i have no idea

 

[fizzy]

Just good old brasso and elbow grease,instead of rag/cloth,do the first clean using card or paper,once the worse is off then go over again using cloth

I find Solvol quicker as it is a tad more abrasive.

 

[Shedendman]

When you've done time in the officers and sergeants mess you learn very quickly how to clean brass and silver

 

[Ton-up]

Thanks, but Autosol, brasso, solvol wont touch it, its a lot thicker than that!

This is more what I would call a oxide or corrosion layer than tarnish I suppose.

 

[Keith 66]

A long time ago I saw a demo and gave it a try, Worked great, Plastic bowl, piece of aluminium sheet in the bowl,( even a couple of layers of ali foil will work. hot water in the bowl to cover the item and a handful of washing soda. the item must be in good contact with the aluminium, just keep checking but it doesn't take long, Same procedure can be used with excellent results on gold and silver.

I saw that done on some flithy jewellery, It sounds like a classic reduction reaction, similar to what happens when a piece of rusty steel is dipped in hydrochloric acid at the galvanisers, cant remember how the exact chemical reaction works. Thanks for reminding me!

 

[Greeves246]

It hasn't been varnished has it? Have seen varnish discoloured and Solvol won't cut through it. Greeves 246

 

[8ob]

Everflux is the best thing I have come across for cleaning copper or brass, obviously needs to be washed off and dont get it on your skin but its pretty much instantaneous. Just needs a bit of gentle heat.

Bob

 

[Wallace]

Chromic acid rings a bell, maybe ask an electroplating company if they can dip it for you?

 

[julianf]

Got any toilet limescale remover?

If you have, try that. It's one you can give a go without buying new stuff.

 

[500e]

Alloy plate & soda works well on silver Never tried on brass how about Coca Cola it cleans pennies ok

 

[Seadog]

Phosphoric acid.

 

[rtcosic]

From a current thread on steel treatment:

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum...-to-original-steel-colour.88033/#post-1275729

http://www.jpennyltd.co.uk/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=271

 

[Parm]

Dunk it in a bath of vinegar diluted with water. Makes it much easier to polish

Works a treat. I cleaned up a brass paraffin blow lamp like this. Photos somewhere on the forum

 

[vmaximus]

I posted something similar some time ago about cleaning a brass fire fender but probably not as tarnished as your 50 odd year old Tilley lamp, I also looked on the internet and I was amazed at the amount of information regarding cleaning up tarnished brass. One of the methods which was widely recommended was Tomato Ketchup, I was rather sceptical about it but it worked, something in the tomatoes and the acid in the vinegar if I remember correctly anyhow I used It rubbing the red sauce onto the brass with an old rag let it dry on the brass washed it off then polished with Brasso and hey presto a shiny fire fender. Give it a go, it doesn't cost much and you've got nothing to loose trying it. Good luck. Pud.

 

[brightspark]

im sure tilley lamps were coated with a bronze colour coating and not just brass