Hello, Pardon any typos, as my fingers are sore from polishing my newest Stove. OUCH! Anybody have any polishing secret formulas? I've been using "Simichrome" Polish and lots and lots of "Elbow Grease" and although it works great in bringing out the beautiful lustre of the Brass, my sore finger tips and hands need a break! Thanks!
GSR (see George's link). Then, polish with Dremel, felt wheel and polishing rouge. Then, if you don't want to re-polish frequently, Rustin's metal lacquer or similar. Terry
I personally found as a first timer to this experience, using a cloth and Autosol metal polishing compound, (No idea if I used a product not recommended but its all I had). Using a cloth started to use far more than I thought necessary and had to keep applying it to be of use. I was concerned I would run out at the rate I needed to keep adding small amounts. I resorted to just wearing a pair of vinyl gloves and using my finger tips, very fast and effective. The vinyl glove didnt absorb the polish it just moved it around. (didnt rip the glove either) I used less on both stoves I cleaned up this way, than during the first 5 minutes using a cloth to apply and buff. I only used cotton buds to do this where my fingers were too big for tight areas. Then used a a cloth to clean up the mess, another to buff.
If you must/do choose to polish a vintage brass stove, be aware ammonia is not a good ingredient in the product chosen. It's been known to crack brass. Ken in NC
Thanks for the heads up, I didnt know that. I chose to clean /polish mine because I intend to use them. I wanted to see if there were any cracks ect. Before I put them to use. I will check any product I use, for ammonia, in future.
If the label doesn't say it's got ammonia you can still tell if its in there by the smell. Ammonia has an odour threshold of about 5ppm. If it's in there, you'll smell it.
Stovost, my apologies, I did not mean to hijack or divert this thread. Just checked the tube for ingredients, I no longer have the box. It does not state ammonia as a content, but I will let some of the more knowledgeable folk on here confirm that.
In my opinion, there is no such thing as "hijacking" a thread, at least as far as CCS is concerned. I've long thought the phrase to be uncongenial. These threads, after all, are not tangible objects. What goes on here is a conversation, which can flow in many directions once started.
Yeah, it was your post and your question so I think it's on topic. I recently purchased a small tube of Simichrome, but it will out last me. Ken in NC
I started using Autosol (used to be called Solvol Autosol) on my first motorbike in 1966. I bought my first brass stove in 1972 (still have it) and have been using it on my stoves ever since. I don't care what it has in it (never looked or researched). I have had zero problems with it. No disintegrating of the brass, no stress fractures - nothing. These days I tend to use it on a polishing pad in a Dremel-type drill - makes things so much easier.
