Replies

1. 
   LeeEschen | Oct 28, 2002 09:48am | #1

   Only if you do it outdoors.

   Methylene chloride stripper is NOT good for breathing. Do NOT use it indoors.

   --

   Lee in Cave Junction, Oregon

   On the Redwood Highway

1. 
   benraymond | Oct 28, 2002 01:53pm | #2

   Wouldn't dream of it.  I took all the hardware out-of doors.  Thanks for the safety tip.

1. 
   observer | Oct 28, 2002 05:13pm | #3

   If you are trying to clean tarnish rather than paint from the hardware, a 24 hr. soak in a bath of Coca Cola will do wonders.

   Edited 10/28/2002 11:30:34 AM ET by Dick

1. 
   DWRead | Oct 28, 2002 07:14pm | #4

   Ben was probably talking about the clear, anti-tarnish coating. Latex paint gives off fumes that dissolve this coating, so coated brass should not be reinstalled for several weeks after painting.

   Edited 10/28/2002 4:15:14 PM ET by DWREAD

1. 
   observer | Oct 29, 2002 07:24am | #5

   I know that latex fumes are nasty, but didn't realize they are that corrosive. The Coke trick works suprisingly well and the brass can be relacquered to hold the shine.

2. 
   AJinNZ | Oct 29, 2002 07:43am | #6

   I once cleaned a heap of brass hardware from an historic house. I used a couple of methods.

   One was to use a scraper to get the layers of paint off, then buff with a cotton wheel loaded with polishing compound. Once nice and shiny, I sprayed with a copper/brass laquer which prevents further tarnishing. That stuff came in a spray can from the local hardware shop.

   The other method was to make up a bucket full of salty water, hook up jumper cables to the truck battery, one clip to an aluminium plate, the other to the dirty brass. Dump the lot in the bucket. It fizzed and bubbled, but removed the grime etc pretty fast. If the cables were connected round the wrong way it electroplated aluminium over the brass. That was pretty apparent quite early on however, so just reverse the clips, and all went shiny again. Then dry off and give it a go on the cotton wheel, then laquer.

    

   Wood Hoon

1. 
   DWRead | Oct 30, 2002 04:44am | #7

   That's cool. I didn't know it was possible to electroplate at home.

1. 
   AJinNZ | Oct 30, 2002 08:29am | #8

   It is pretty basic, but works. I dimly remember something from chemistry class about anodes etc, so gave it a go. The metal plate used has to be quite a way off from the brass on the periodic table to work the best as I recall. When hooked up correctly, brass is leaving and being deposited on the aluminium. The dirt cant stay on because the metal under it has ''left''. Same happens in reverse. The brass got a definite silver tone to it. I didnt want to damage it so didnt leave it running for any length of time. Could be an interesting experiment. 

   Wood Hoon

1. 
   DWRead | Oct 30, 2002 10:41pm | #9

   There was a story, perhaps a myth, told by a chemistry teacher about electroplating and J.P. Morgan. He wanted gold fixtures for his new yacht and hired a metallurgist for the job. The metallurgist asked for an advance of $100, $50 of which he used to buy electroplating materials, and the remaining money to buy a $50 gold coin to use as an electrode.

   He plated all the fixtures and was paid his fee. Then he took the gold coin to the bank and got his $50 back. The point of the story was that gold-plating deposits so thin a layer, the gold coin looked exactly the same as before.

   Well, chem TAs aren't noted for their fascinating stories.

2. 
   benraymond | Oct 30, 2002 10:47pm | #10

   I take my hat off to you.  And my wife thinks that I am constantly fiddling with stuff!

   I was referring to old paint left on by the prior painters, and the tarnish by overuse.  Looks like I'm going to use Coke - or should I try pepsi?

   Thanks for all the help and advice,

   Ben

1. 
   AJinNZ | Oct 31, 2002 08:17am | #13

   It's not so much fiddling, more " I wonder what would happen if I........"

   I got tired with the slower rate at which i could clean the old many layers of paint of the hardware I was working on, so tried the electric method. Speed wise it worked like gang busters. The polishing wheel alone took a while to rub through the paint, scraping first was quicker as it didnt really want to hold onto the metal.

   Soaking in coke to get paint off could take some time. I didnt try that one, so worth a go.

   DW,

   I saw on TV once a story about all the gold artifacts from Egyptian tombs that were in museums. It was assumed that they were all solid gold. A surprising number turned out to be gold plate. That raised the question of how did they do it. A couple of copper vessels and rods that were unexplained were duplicated and hooked up. Vinegar and one electrode went into one, I think another went into a potato. Anyway, a small current was generated, enough to gold plate a small piece of metal............ 

   Wood Hoon

2. 
   observer | Oct 31, 2002 06:08pm | #14

   AJ, coke won't take the paint off, it's only good for the tarnish.

3. 
   RSRose | Oct 30, 2002 11:00pm | #11

   Wood Hoon,

   In previous posts about restoring planes, plane irons, etc which are made of steel - the technique is to use a sacrificial iron or steel electrode so that new iron gets deposited onto the piece being restored. The rust doesn't come off as a reult of iron being removed from under it. (I assume)

   With the brass situation, would a brass sacrifical electrode put brass back on the brass object being restored if the elctrodes are reversed? Would that force paint and tarnish off the object being restored?

   R

1. 
   AJinNZ | Oct 31, 2002 08:05am | #12

   Rich, unfortunately my knowledge of this process is limited. I cant go into the reasons as to why, because i cant remember it.  A search on electroplating, sacrificial plating etc would probably give you far more detail than I can.

   I cant think of any reason why what you said wouldnt work, all I do remember is a sacrificial plate lower on the periodic table ( I think ) attracted metal from the bit you wanted to clean. If a block of magnesium for example were attached to the steel body of a car, the area surrounding it wont rust because of this process. All to do with electrons wanting to move to a better neighbourhood. <G> 

   Wood Hoon

3. 
   Bill5507 | Oct 31, 2002 11:29pm | #15

   I bought and antique dresser at an auction, with the intention of refinishing it for use in our bedroom.  The hardware that was on it was pitch black,front and back,  and I had no idea what it made from.  I soaked the handles in regular household clear ammonia for a few hours and found a wonderful solid brass fixture under eons of crud.  That was for brass without a lacquer coating.

   Bill

1. 
   DWRead | Nov 01, 2002 12:15am | #16

   Solid brass? What a find! Did the dresser spruce up well?

1. 
   Bill5507 | Nov 01, 2002 04:10pm | #17

   It was a great find.  There was an auction at an old farm house in upstate NY, the last of the owners had passed away, so I bid on a dresser with a marble top and an attached mirror.  The entire thing was painted a hiddeous green.  After stripping the paint I found it had burl walnut drawer fronts and the rest was also walnut.  I paid $50 on a hunch that I would find something worthwhile under the paint.  The marble top along with the drawer and case construction told me it was well made.

   You just never know.

   Bill