Re: MtMan-List: Re: Brass

[John Kramer <kramer@kramerize.com>]

At 12:08 AM 4/8/97 EDT, you wrote:
>I guarantee any one of these will work, remember to buff out the
>highlights with 0000 steel wool.  Hope this helps!
>
>Old Coyote
>
Note:  The theory of polishing involves scratching.  The finer and more
uniform the scratches the higher the shine (polish).  0000 steel wool is
relatively coarse and will leave a duller finish than that left by buffing.
 It may be necessary to use steel wool depending on the surface to be
treated and how encrusted the piece.  

For most metal polishing inert minerals offer a finer scratching hence
higher polish.  For cleaning off liver of sulphur or minor tarnish usually
all that is needed is "whiting" mixed with water to a paste.  If the
scratches from steel wool are to be reduced then follow the order of
abrasives below.

Pumice (4 grades available, I find any one of which works)
Rottenstone
Whiting

Whiting is the finest abrasive we know.  Feels like face powder in the
fingers.  It is calcium carbonate; the active ingredient in Tums, the
binder in aspirin; makes Gesso when mixed with rabbit skin glue.  A good
paint store (rare) or an artist supply house should have some.  The flesh
side of plain buckskin makes a pretty good final buffer all by itself.

Rouges used with power buffing wheels are graded as to grit and way too
high tech for here.

If you want a period "backwoods" method use "joint grass" sometimes called
horsetail.  It grows in bunches and looks something like baby bamboo and
glistens on the surface with the silica content beads on vertical ribbing
between nodes, it can even polish tempered steel.  Don't know the official
name, just what it looks like and it works -- best when fresh.  I've found
it in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Arizona and
Nevada it probably can be found elsewhere.  About the same grit as 0000
steel wool.  Mormon pioneers are reputed to have used it as a tea to cure
stomach problems.

One more way to tarnish brass is to first clean the surface of all oil,
grease and protective coatings then urinate on it for a few days, in a pile
of manure will speed the process.  Because of EPA regulations brass made in
this country today will never look the same as old brass, different color
from the get go.  Some foreign brass still uses the old process.

Legend tells that brass stained with blood can never have the stain
removed, a legend I tend to believe as I have an old brass handle fighting
cane that will not clean up no matter what I try.

John...
Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without.
John Kramer
kramer@kramerize.com