I have an old brass bed. Once a year take the head and foot boards to the driveway. Use a paint brush and cover with ketchup. Let sit and hose off. Works with out elbow grease. JKL
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I have an old brass bed. Once a year take the head and foot boards to the driveway. Use a paint brush and cover with ketchup. Let sit and hose off. Works with out elbow grease. JKL
OK, so I KNOW that you engineering/chemist types already know this, so go grab a coffee . . . this is for us non-geeks in the gang.
I usually clean up old tarnished brass barbs and fittings and such in a mixture of Clorox liquid toilet bown cleaner and CLR lime and rust remover. Kind of a 0.75 to 0.25 mix. When the brass turns pink I take it out of the jar and Brillo Pad the h&ll out if it 'til it shines then clear coat it to perfection. I LOVE the look of brass fittings on brushed aluminum oil coolers and such.
Anyway, THIS time I also threw in a few steel fittings and a couple of rusted petcocks as well. This "solution/suspension" also does a great job on rust.
When I removed the items from the jar, everything was the same color pink. I started to Brillo them up and didn't realize that some of the "brass" was actually PLATED steel until I got to the petcocks, which (like the steel barbs) were rust free and brass plated ! ! !
Everything Brilloed up perfectly and clear coated beautifully!
What a cool new trick, brass plating that stands up to Brillo Pads!
EASY PEASY ! ! !
What a great way to brass plate those pesky gauge bezels! Or put a nice shiny coat of brass on those dirty old dimes in the dresser . . .
Cool, eh ?!?!?!
[NOTE: I'm assuming that the fittings were brass, not copper because of the yellow color and strength; But, I bet that this would copper and maybe even silver as well. I'm gonna try it this afternoon. Mmmmmmm silver plated Speedster script . . . or soft golden brass. Looks like gold, but much cheaper.
I usually clean up old tarnished brass barbs and fittings and such in a mixture of Clorox liquid toilet bown cleaner and CLR lime and rust remover. Kind of a 0.75 to 0.25 mix. When the brass turns pink I take it out of the jar and Brillo Pad the h&ll out if it 'til it shines then clear coat it to perfection. I LOVE the look of brass fittings on brushed aluminum oil coolers and such.
Anyway, THIS time I also threw in a few steel fittings and a couple of rusted petcocks as well. This "solution/suspension" also does a great job on rust.
When I removed the items from the jar, everything was the same color pink. I started to Brillo them up and didn't realize that some of the "brass" was actually PLATED steel until I got to the petcocks, which (like the steel barbs) were rust free and brass plated ! ! !
Everything Brilloed up perfectly and clear coated beautifully!
What a cool new trick, brass plating that stands up to Brillo Pads!
EASY PEASY ! ! !
What a great way to brass plate those pesky gauge bezels! Or put a nice shiny coat of brass on those dirty old dimes in the dresser . . .
Cool, eh ?!?!?!
[NOTE: I'm assuming that the fittings were brass, not copper because of the yellow color and strength; But, I bet that this would copper and maybe even silver as well. I'm gonna try it this afternoon. Mmmmmmm silver plated Speedster script . . . or soft golden brass. Looks like gold, but much cheaper.
Yeah chemicals.....yummy! I just discovered that GUNK cleans oil stains off concrete pretty well. just spray it on and with a broom brush it around abit and hose it off and let dry. The only down side is the smell of GUNK, but I kinda like it. We should start a new thread, SPEEDSTER CHEMICAL DISCOVERIES
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My discovery this week is, if you have a race deck garage floor, don't get gasoline on it. The manufacturer says its resistant to gasoline, but you had better like curled up edges and warped sections, because that what gasoline will do to it.
Having been in the Army '68-'70, I can speak with authority, try Brasso in a red, white and blue can (I think) and can be purchased in Safeway and other grocery stores. Best I have found! D-man
I second Darryll; I've used Brasso and Silvo (sibling product by the same company) and they work incredibly well. Also Mother's Metal Polish is nothing short of a miracle on any metal but be careful with gold plating.
My Dad collects brass era race cars . . . believe me, I've hated Brasso since I was a kid and he first got into those d*mned things.
His favorite line was, "Hey asso, pass the Brasso!" . . .
I'd rather soak a fitting for a month than touch a bottle of that milky stuff. And what's with that little red, white, blue and gold can? It reminds me SO MUCH of the old lighter fluid/starter fluid cans . . . and a military flag!?
Maybe THAT'S why I also hate cook-outs . . . and parades . . . time for a little couch time with a shrink, I think.
His favorite line was, "Hey asso, pass the Brasso!" . . .
I'd rather soak a fitting for a month than touch a bottle of that milky stuff. And what's with that little red, white, blue and gold can? It reminds me SO MUCH of the old lighter fluid/starter fluid cans . . . and a military flag!?
Maybe THAT'S why I also hate cook-outs . . . and parades . . . time for a little couch time with a shrink, I think.
Hey you arm chair chemists. I have a very grimy tile shower stall. SO far on ly Comet and a scotch pad and a lot of elbow grease cleans it. (It looks like new but will take me a day.
Any ideas.
Any ideas.
Alloy wheel cleaner. Wet the surface, spray it on, brush lightly and wash it off. It's a diluted acid (muriatic?) and works great.
Of course, as the lables all say, test in an area which doesn't show.
Of course, as the lables all say, test in an area which doesn't show.