cleaning brass

[tomatoada]

The brass guard in front of my imitation coals gas fire is looking very dull.  I have tried brasso and other cleaners but results are poor.  Is there anything more industrial out there I could try?

[tomatoada]

[Digeroo]

My mother had a habit of buying old brass at jumble sales and 'bringing it up'.  It involved boiling it in water with washing soda added.  She used an old frying pan which she kept for this purpose.  I have no knowledge of the safety of this process and I am now sure that it is not to be recommended.   Some brass is given a coating so it does not need cleaning but in the end the dirt gets behind the layer and the brass cleaners do not get the dirty off.  Once treated the items need very regular brass treatments. 

[Duke Ellington]

The same happened to our brass letter box.As Digeroo said the dirt get under the lacquer. The lacquer has to be removed. We used paint stripper. You can re lacquer it but we chose not to preferring to give it a good polish once in a while.

Duke

[Kleftiwallah]

Anyone remember the dreaded 'Button Stick' ? ? ?   ???

Pull up a sand bag.   :D    Cheers,     Tony.

[tomatoada]

What interesting replies!
Dirt under the lacquer so thats it.   

[rosebud]

  Get a nice juicey lemon & rub the brass all over thouroughly rinse well luke warm water polish with a soft cloth. Brilliant. 
I read this in a magazine years ago & have used it . ;D ;D.

[gazza1960]

Rosebud hit the nail,my dad has a brass fanfare and bugle at home and kept them clean with
preserved lemons that he had from my kitchen,the citrous and slight salt abrasive brought them up nice then
washed with soap and water.

Gazza

[antipodes]

In France, the old ladies use something called "Blanc d'Espagne" or Spanish White. I believe that it is calcium carbonate powder. You make a little paste with water and rub it on then polish it off. My Mother in law uses it on metals like brass and stainless steel.
Maybe that can be got from somewhere? Maybe from a hardware store? I know it is used in other things...

[tomatoada]

Lemons first.  Thenwill ask my Pharmacist friend about calcium carbinate.

[pumkinlover]

http://www.maasinc.com/

[Digeroo]

Calcium Carbinate is chalk.  Not blackboard, but as in White Cliffs of Dover.  Also Limestone but that is far too hard having been recrystallised.

Coca Cola can also be very good but I am not sure that these get off lacquer. 

[antipodes]

Calcium Carbinate is chalk.  Not blackboard, but as in White Cliffs of Dover.  Also Limestone but that is far too hard having been recrystallised.

Yes I think you are probably right, it is just processed in a way that makes it very soft for cleaning. People here have used it for hundreds of years - my mum in law uses it to clean the brass joints under the doors.

[grannyjanny]

WD40 seems to work miracles on most things, mmmmm I wonder ;D.