Brass lacquering

[Gary Cockett]

Hi there, Any thoughts on the best way to lacquer brass that provides a finish that lasts more than 12-18 months? Regards, Gary

[Mary Fisher]

Any thoughts on how to get rid of a 30 year old lacquer on thin and heavily ornamented brass plaques?

Mary

[BigWallop]

Try this:

[S Viemeister]

I'ver had good luck with boiling brass, then scrubbing with an old toothbrush (I suppose a new toothbrush could be used).

Sheila

[Mary Fisher]

OK, Sheila, thanks for that.

Can you lend me a vessel which will accommodate a 30" diameter plaque?

:-)))))

Mary

[Andrew Mawson]

Mary,

When I re lacquered my brass door furniture I just put them all in a plastic bucket , poured water soluble paint stripper over them, brushed it all over (makes a nice clean paint brush!) and covered the bucket in cling film to stop too much evaporation. After about 3 hours I rinsed them off under the tap, and dried them in a tepid oven. Gave them a good polish, washed them again in very hot water, then repeated the oven treatment.

Sprayed them with car lacquer but it's too early yet (2 months) to see if it lasts well.

Andrew Mawson

[PJO]

A solution of Harpic (approx 10-1 with water) works well but don't leave in too long or it'll ruin the actual brass.

[stuart noble]

Ammonia and boiling water (in a closed container of course) was the traditional way but that pre-supposes that no synthetic lacquers or modern finishes had been applied. Nitromors should shift just about anything without affecting the brass.

[Mary Fisher]

Thank you for that - but where can I get a bucket big enough?

Thinks - perhaps a large plastic bag - if I can find one wioth no child safety holes ... Hmm, thanks.

Mary

[Owain]

"Mary Fisher" wrote | "S Viemeister" wrote | > I'ver had good luck with boiling brass, then scrubbing with | > an old toothbrush (I suppose a new toothbrush could be used). | OK, Sheila, thanks for that. | Can you lend me a vessel which will accommodate a 30" diameter plaque?

Local restaurant, school or canteen potwasher?

Owain

[Owain]

"Mary Fisher" wrote | Thinks - perhaps a large plastic bag - if I can find one wioth | no child safety holes ... Hmm, thanks.

Make your own from plastic sheeting and a Smart Sealer plastic-bag-sealer from QVC.

Owain

[Andrew Mawson]

Form a circle of desired diameter with close spaced loose laid bricks and press polythene sheeting in to make a pond of requisite size !

(I've caustic soda stripped doors this way in years gone by.)

Andrew Mawson

[S Viemeister]

An old tin bath tub?

Sheila

[Mary Fisher]

That would do it.

IF I had the bricks.

IF I had the space.

IF I had the polythene ...

:-)

It's a sound idea.

Mary

[Mary Fisher]

We keep coal in the bath, didn't you know that :-)

Mary

[Mary Fisher]

Going to rather a lot of trouble and expense for something I've lived with for years ...

Just had a thought. I could spray the desired solvent on the plaques ...

... or I wonder if the steam cleaner might do the job?

I'll try that first.

But I'm grateful for all the suggestions. They've all made the grey cells work.

Mary

Mary

[Phil Addison]

Wheelie bin?

-- Phil Addison The uk.d-i-y FAQ is at

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[Mary Fisher]

Not ours.

I'll report on the steam cleaner method tomorrow.

Mary

[Phil Addison]

I have stripped a long narrow object* by placing it on cling film and liberally lacing with Nitromors, then loosly wrapping it up in the clingfilm overnight. In the morning washed away the gunge and the job was done.

• OK, it was a 4'6"x3" marble hearth upstand that had been broken in several bits and badly repaired with various adhesives. I scrupulously cleaned the bits and reglued them together with super glue.

-- Phil Addison The uk.d-i-y FAQ is at

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[The Natural Philosopher]

Gold plating.

Might try dipping in casting resin as well.