Large Scale Central

Brass cleaner

Problem Solving
#4

Peter, I used Never Dull in the past. But it left my hands all greasy, and it took more rubbing then I thought should be necessary. Ketchup will do most of the work for me (I am lazy), if I let it sit for 30 minutes or so.

John, I have Brasso, and it too requires too much effort on my part. You see, since I had Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, my hands cramp pretty quickly when I am polishing by hand. I put up with the cramps at work, I am getting paid to do the job, but at home I look for easier ways.

Clear shoe paste wax? Now that is a good idea, I will have to “borrow” that one.

#5

I’ve used Flitz in the past and it works wellflitz

#6

Flitz is recommended on many websites for cleaning/polishing HO nickle silver track. I haven’t tried the stuff.

#7

I think it would leave a lot of residue. I’d just use a “Bright Boy”.

#8

Ric Golding said:

I think it would leave a lot of residue. I’d just use a “Bright Boy”.

I do. I have lost a few at the shows, and I have one that looks like its almost ready to be discarded. For some reason its been my job to clean the rails on the clubs’ set ups at the shows.

#9

Flitz works great but has to be washed off, I second what Ric uses polishes and cleans, PS if using a chemical cleaner such as vinegar or acid type it will turn the brass a pinkish color as it dissolves the zinc out of the brass and leaves the copper, Bill

#10

Bright Boys scratch. an abrasive impregnated rubber.

Polish is another step.

#11

Yep, but everything scratches even polishing compound, it’s the size of the scratch that matters

#12

Bill, maybe if I soaked the brass in Katsup for a long time, that would be true. But I haven’t seen the brass turn a copper colour the way I use it.

#13

Bill Barnwell said:

Yep, but everything scratches even polishing compound, it’s the size of the scratch that matters

Yup, so why not go finer?

Eve Square Edge Pumice Wheels 22 x 3mm High Luster Polishing Wheel ...

High luster polish wheels…

#14

John, why not? Um, I just want to clean track on the clubs’ set up, so I just use the brite boy. I don’t need to go for a mirror finish on the rails. And I just want to de-tarnish the brass parts on my locomotives, so I use ketchup. Both are the easier and less expensive option for me.

#15

At the time nobody was talking track and as a battery guy I never think of track cleaning …

#16

How about a bigger “Bright Boy” that would be easier to hold. On the large scale stuff, the LGB track cleaning pad works great! Get one of those and cut it in half.

#17

John, I wasn’t initially talking about track. And HO track that the clubs use is nickle silver.

Rick, I clean my gauge one track with a drywall sander pole, with a rag on it dampened with water and a touch of Dawn dish soap. My gauge one track is stainless steel. I don’t think an LGB pad would be easy to use on HO track.

#18

David Maynard said:

John, I wasn’t initially talking about track. And HO track that the clubs use is nickle silver.

-snip-

Nobody was, you had a chemical cleaner, catsup.

Somebody suggested the Bright boy.

I objected to scratches to remove oxidation.

Captain Obvious said everything scratches …but

Those blue silicone pumice wheels polish without scratching …

Just a suggestion, then you mentioned aches and pains … I quit.

#19

Sorry John. I wasn’t trying to make anyone quit. I didn’t intend to frustrate anyone. I was just trying to offer a useful trick that I use. But you know, thread drift, and other factors, sometimes make me regret trying.

#20

John Caughey said:

Bill Barnwell said:

Yep, but everything scratches even polishing compound, it’s the size of the scratch that matters

Yup, so why not go finer?

That is the trick

Eve Square Edge Pumice Wheels 22 x 3mm High Luster Polishing Wheel ...

High luster polish wheels…

#21

David Maynard said:

Sorry John. I wasn’t trying to make anyone quit. I didn’t intend to frustrate anyone. I was just trying to offer a useful trick that I use. But you know, thread drift, and other factors, sometimes make me regret trying.

I only meant adding to this list.

As a bench jeweler, we favored the blue wheels because they polish prong settings nicely and don’t leave scratches (on the stones)

i saw no need to go backwards to a ‘crude’ (say 50 years since introduction) bright boy, when tarnish is an easy foe.

That’s all …

#22

“High luster polish wheels”??? I’m intrigued. Like Peter, I’ve used my fair share of Brasso, Never Dull, Ketchup and Fitz. Unfamiliar with the “high Luster Polish wheels”. Where do you find them?

#23

https://www.riogrande.com/product/dedeco-sunburst-7-8-knife-edge-polishing-wheel-1-micron-light-green/326198

There’s been a few changes since I retired from jewelry making, the blue wheels are pink.

We polished prongs on set stones, a place where you want to keep the metal for strength and wear.

A fine company to deal with, no problems.