How to lift dried brass polish out of crevices

Thanks for the various suggestions made here.

In the end, the only thing that works to extricate the polish is to use a toothpick, but since this tray must have something several hundred metres of fine crevices, that's not really an option.

Neither soaking overnight in a solution of washing-up liquid, nor applying more aggressive solvents (vinegar, white spirit, various alcohols) makes any difference, and doesn't appear to loosen the dried material enough to brush it out - I think the crevices are just too fine and the polish too tenacious.

(The tray was large enough for me to do a somewhat controlled experiment with different solvents on different parts of it, but since none of them appeared to make any difference at all, there's nothing interesting to report about that.)

Daniele

Have you tried a glass fibre brush? It will 'polish' the brass and remove any tarnish so may not be suitable, if you wish to preserve it, but if you want to get polish as well... Wear gloves, the fibres are nasty if they get in your fingers. The brushes look like thick propelling pencils, the brush bits are replaceable. Available on Ebay.

Sounds like it?s time to try the pressure washer approach. ;-)

Seriously, unless there?s something unusually fragile about the tray I can?t see high pressure water doing half the amount of harm that polishes, acids etc can cause.

Tim

So you haven't actually tried a pressure washer have you? scared of being shown to be wrong?

If I tell you that you'll be perfectly safe throwing yourself in front of a bus, are you 'scared' or simply prudent if you don't want to try it out? :)

Sonicare toothbrush? Boiling-hot water?

As an outlier idea: hot-melt glue applied to the cold brass. Allow to cool and harden, then peel it off. (Some of) the dirt will stick to the glue. (Hot melt desn't stick to metal at all well. I have cleaned stubborn dirt off metal parts this way, sometimes very successfully.)

As to some of the other options:

"Traditional or home remedies - to be avoided! "Traditional or home remedies usually rely on harsh abrasives, acids or alkalis to attack tarnish and should be avoided. The use of cola, baking soda, false teeth cleaner or lemon juice is aggressive and uncontrolled. The effect - a bright and shiny 'as new' appearance - is not usually appropriate or desirable. Traditional remedies are used for a 'quick fix' - the opposite of conservation, which requires a slower, more cautious approach and regular progress checks."

Thomas Prufer

Try not to be sillier than you were actually born.

Sadly even in these COVID-restricted days I don't have the time to keep up with the ineffable bantz of uk.d-i-y.

I have enough self-awareness to realise I'm doing other people a favour by taking rather than offering DIY advice (unlike some).

Daniele

It's science, you silly old arse, you don't get to pick and choose according to your whims. You're not at the take-away asking for no onions because they give you indigestion and flatulence.

My apologies for mixing you up with the wrong brand of anti-scientist, I can't really be bothered to pick apart people's different kinds of witchcraft preferences. You're all the same to me.

Daniele

But have you tried pressure washing yet? You?ve never explained why you thought it was such a bad idea.

Tim

Reverting to your original question, I've just cleaned out the hallmarks on my late wife's wedding ring, using an electric toothbrush and a little toothpaste, in case it's not been suggested or you've not tried it.

Why do you think I even have access to a pressure washer in the first place? But if I did, it wouldn't occur to me to risk destroying irreplaceable antiques with it.

Daniele

Here's a video with an improved mechanical design, and no need to execute spectacular saves in the face of robotics live demo glitches:

You?ve never mentioned ?irreplaceable antiques? before nor have said why you think high pressure water would damage brass.

Tim

The problem is that it is the people who support global warming who are anti science - as has been proved repeatedly.

REAL scientist know the score, but keep their mouths shut whilst employed at universities to avoid losing their jobs

To believe in CO2 induced global warming requires that you are dishonest or not a scientist or are rather dim.

Which are you?

I think its because he is rather dim, or not a scientist.

It sure works to get the crud out of cracks and crevices in cars

What irreplaceable antiques would those be? So you admit you don't have a pressure washer, have never used one and therefore have no clue as to whether it would be destructive or not Your opinions on matters DIY count for as little as your opinions on climate change and for the same reason. Your opinions are based on egotism and not on experience.

You are just a pretentious code monkey Stick to your narrow areas of expertise

Quite the opposite. It has not been shown repeatedly.

And someone who doesn't keep an open mind leaving it to those who know more than you; it would be called burying your head in the sand.

None of the above.