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Cleaning Brass?

  • 02-09-2024 2:42pm
    #1
    Stigura
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,576 ✭✭✭


    Of plastic, melted on, specifically. Let's not ask why 😁

    Anyway, yeah; Bits and spots. Cable Tie 'plastic', for the purists. (Nylon?) What ever. Brass brush wheel, in a low drill? Scratchy. It'd shift the plastic, but it's scratching the brass horribly.

    Figured an abrasive paper / cloth? What do people use, for softer metals, please? Perhaps something that might be used as a Cleaner, before Polishing? I don't need to polish it. Just shift the plastic spots, without cross hatching the brass beneath.

    Thanks.



Comments

  • #2
    HeidiHeidi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,040 ✭✭✭✭HeidiHeidi


    Fine steel wool from any hardware shop.



  • #3
    Jim_Hodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,716 ✭✭✭✭Jim_Hodge


    An old tips and tricks book suggests

    • Freeze the plastic. If you can't put the item in the freezer for a few hours, place a bag of ice on the plastic to harden it.
    • Scrape off the plastic. Use a wooden or hard plastic scraper to pry off the hardened plastic. Work slowly so that you won't mar the metal finish. Refreeze if the plastic doesn't pop off easily.
    • Use baking soda. To remove the final bits of plastic, mix a paste of baking soda and water to create a gentle abrasive. Scrub the area with the paste and a sponge. For melted plastic on the interior of a pot or pan, add a few inches of water and a generous scoop of baking soda. Heat the water, and allow it to simmer for several minutes. Scour with a scrubbing brush when the water cools a bit.



  • #4
    Stigura
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,576 ✭✭✭Stigura


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122574843#Comment_122574843

    Got some. I could really do with a bit more 'Oomph'. to be honest 😐️

    Maybe something between there and my (Brass) wire wheel?

    Some grade of 'Emery Cloth', or something? Thinking Mechanics …. 🤔



  • #5
    HeidiHeidi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,040 ✭✭✭✭HeidiHeidi


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122574856#Comment_122574856

    Maybe a bit less fine then, there are different grades of it



  • #6
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,091 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    Judicious application of heat?

    Not your ornery onager



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  • #7
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,071 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    Try acetone on a small area. It might not attack the nylon, but might liberate some of the staining.

    https://www.millerplastics.com/how-acetone-affects-certain-plastics/



  • #8
    Stigura
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,576 ✭✭✭Stigura


    @Jim_Hodge : " Freeze the plastic. " That's a thought, isn't it? Wonder what happens? Something to do with physics. Metal shrinks, doesn't it? Presumably, enough to break what ever 'bond' the two have?

    Tell ye what, Jim? No point in asking, if ye not ready to try! 😁 I've got the Two bits of brass here. I'll get one of them into the freezer, very shortly. Let's say '16:00'. Check it, later tonight.

    I'll report back 👍️



  • #9
    Stigura
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,576 ✭✭✭Stigura


    Essel and The 10; Hullo, lads. Now it Really gets annoying! We're getting down to the Blockers! 😂

    Heat: Tried that already. Unfortunately, with a brand new blow torch. No Idea what I was doing, of course. By the time I'd even got started, I'd Baked the 'plastic'. This is why we're onto stage Three, which is 'Bloody Stop and Ask Someone!' 😬

    Blocker 2. Sort of covering Heat and Acetone? The horrible fact that I'm dealing with a 'Pot' here. Brass pot. In the bottom of which is a 'floor' of melted plastic!

    See? I'd already thought of putting the whole pot on the stove. I'd figured That might provide a gentler, more gradually rising heat? Only, of course, first thing to melt wold be that floor.

    Acetone? Obviously, that would run Down ~ as opposed to the rising heat ~ and, too, would hit that Floor. (Head wrecking, isn't it? I try not to bring ye he stupidly simple. I go for the cortex! 😂)

    But, yeah, that's why I'm really down to looking at 'Mechanical'. Jim's book of freezing things, aside. Be lovely, if That worked, wouldn't it? Pop the pot section in there? Brass is the mother of all conductors though, isn't it?! Wow!

    Er. Gotta go and get that spike now. Chuck it in the freezer.



  • #10
    The Continental Op
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,479 ✭✭✭The Continental Op


    You've just bought a gas torch! Heat it, melt it and peel/scrape it off - wear strong gloves.

    Wake me up when it's all over.



  • #11
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,071 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    Ah, a pot! Thermal shock. Freeze it and then dunk the base into another pot of boiling water. Then repeat. It might start loosening up.



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  • #12
    Stigura
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,576 ✭✭✭Stigura


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122575119#Comment_122575119

    Op! G'day, mate! 😁 I could make a Video of this nonsense. But, I'd be banned the minute I opened my mouth! 😂

    Of course I've bought a blow torch! How else do ye think I got myself into this mess! It's an absolute tragedy, what goes on down those stables! Even the horses groan, " Oh god. Not again. " when I walk in there with that steely glint!

    See above. We're past the peeley scratchy phase, mate. This stuff's blasted back to its basic carbons! And, it's stuck in my brass!

    Anyway, whole shebang's in the freezer, now. I need a 'mini Spark' now. Someone with a soldering iron. ( Don't let me down that stable with a soldering iron!)

    The world's awaiting about half eight, tonight.

    Would photo's of all this carp help the Massive?



  • #13
    Gen.Zhukov
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,092 ✭✭✭Gen.Zhukov


    I wouldn't worry too much about scratching the brass as it's easy enough to polish it out with the right bit of kit

    Here's one I prep'd earlier

    Pic one of a bit of brass bar that was given a rub with some scotchbrite pad to score it

    Brass1.jpg

    Pic 2 was after it got a minute of machine polishing using a mop (smaller of my mops shown) and a bar of polishing compound (in pic)

    Brass2.jpg

    More time spent would've gotten it even better

    Post edited by Gen.Zhukov on


  • #14
    Stigura
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,576 ✭✭✭Stigura


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122575125#Comment_122575125

    Sorry. Missed this, in the excitement! Yeah. No. The whole lot's in the freezer, as we speak. K?

    Now, that's Jim's book. (I just haven't got any powder to hand). This is something I can do, 'right now'. So, I'm going with that. One step at a time, obviously 🙂

    Just means there's nothing much I can do, now. Just wait till about half eight. Four hours? Should be frozen as it gets, surely?



  • #15
    Stigura
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,576 ✭✭✭Stigura


    @Gen.Zhukov Oh! 😳 Scotchbright! That's the very stuff I was trying to think of, For the 'polishing' / cleaning! Whoah! I'd likely have scratched my way through the sides then! 😬

    No, seeing ye lathe thing, there? You're working Outside, of course. I will be, with the Spike. But, I'll also have the Pot, where I'll need to go Inside. (Boy, do I find rods for my back?!)

    Today, trudging in weary 'no defeat!' from the stables, I was thinking: " Dremmel? How small a ….. er, What ever, would They do? What sort? ".

    See my thinking though? Like ye lathe, but polishing inside. I guess that's where the scratchy, brass wire wheels came in? I need less scratchy wheels. That thinking.



  • #16
    Stigura
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,576 ✭✭✭Stigura


    Well ….. It's good 👍️

    I pulled the two bits out of the freezer at 21:40. Was busy. But, figured the more time the better, probably?

    Combined the Hodge and Heidi methods, on the Spike? Off it came! Shiny, brass spike once more. Bit scratchy? But, hey, that's character, right?

    Pot? I'm not quite finished yet. But, I'm very happy with the results and shall return to that tomorrow. Better light and me not drained. But, yeah. Having threading and so on? That's more intensive and could probably use a 'steel tooth pick'. Wood doesn't work.

    Oh: And I'm in A&E. Suspected frost bite 😂



  • #17
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,071 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    😂 some man. Glad it's improved!



  • #18
    Stigura
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,576 ✭✭✭Stigura


    Bit of update. Then, I need to vent!!! 😁

    Left it, back in the freezer. Took it out earlier. A new drill's arrived and I just fancied trying that out. Got the Pot, Brass Wheel, Steel wool, new drill.

    Good. Fine and dandy. The wheel still roughs the brass. Makes the inside thread look 'glittery'. I'm sure all that will weather in.

    But, yeah. I've cleaned the inside of the Pot, as far as I need it. Cool. Now, I want to scream.

    See, I bought Two of the Spikes. One, I've been working on since the start. Remember putting That on a pie dish, in my freezer, along with the pot. Yeah? Then, I remember doing something in there. Removing the Pot? Tray? Can't find that bloody spike!!!

    Bad, eh? 'it happens 😐️

    Guys; In the name of all that is right and just in this world: Where in Hades have I stashed the Other bloody thing?!? 😬 Urrrgh!!!!



  • #19
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,091 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    What an epic saga.

    Not your ornery onager



  • #20
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,071 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    You'll find it when you don't need it. Always the way Stigura!



  • #21
    Stigura
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,576 ✭✭✭Stigura


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122582942#Comment_122582942

    Seriously though, 10? I don't, for a minute, think this thread gives the slightest inkling of just how Gutted I am 😟

    I know it may all come across as a bit of a joke. But, I'll tell ye what? In real life, behind all this; I've been working Damn long and hard on this bit of nonsense. Put some Real money into it too. Bought stuff Just for this job.

    I've been over this desk. Down the stables. Through the bloody freezer, Again! Nuffn! And, I 'wouldn't mind', But: It took them Weeks to get here! Flown in from Turkey. Only to be swallowed up by Leitrim. Ye couldn't make thus up.

    Anyway; I mentioned my new drill? 😁 Nice! One of Einhell's battery ones. Forget the number. Lovely though! That's what enabled me to brush the plastic off, more slowly, see?



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  • #22
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,071 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    Look at it this way: Your loss is Letrim's gain. 😁

    Now back to slow drilling and curious threads. 😆



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