Best thing for cleaning brass?

[Luddite]

Craigb,
Yes you can clean with it, it works fine, but given it is a little expensive I prefer to use a home made mixutre similar to what Derek Cohen has recommended here on one of his posts, then finish with the renaissance wax.
I can't remember exactly how much it was when I bought it, but I bought it from a guy in Melbourne (a violin maker)...I think it was around $35 for the 200ml can delivered to Sydney.
If you would like his details I will PM them to you. Just let me know.
Anthony

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Has anyone tried toothpaste? Or am I the only idiot to use it?

[Dion N]

Best thing for cleaning brass is white metal polish stick on a cloth buffing wheel on my bench grinder! If Brasso is a bit rough, I would suspect the cloth you're using, not the polish.
Cheers
Graeme

For a finer finish with brasso, use a piece of paper instead of a cloth

[Driver]

Is your brass cannon set up on a hill incase oz gets invaded/

Who the hell would want to invade Al? The Craporium may be one of Victoria's more significant cultural landmarks - but an invasion?

[craigb]

Best thing for cleaning brass is white metal polish stick on a cloth buffing wheel on my bench grinder! If Brasso is a bit rough, I would suspect the cloth you're using, not the polish.
Cheers
Graeme

Cloth I was using was an old cotton bed sheet.

Dion, I hadn't thought to use paper, I'll try it out.

Brasso with a cloth seems to leave very fine scratches on the brass. Definitely not a good look on your CC square :eek: (not that I've used it on my CC square) which is why I want to find the gentlest method for cleaning the brass.

When you spend a lot of money on good quality hand tools, the last thing I want to do is stuff them up cleaning them.

Major, I have some Kitten polish in the cupboard. I'll certainly give it a try on a piece of brass that "doesn't matter" to see how it goes.

It's interesting to hear all the favorite methods that the members have of cleaning their brass.

Cheers
Craig

[soundman]

Another brand of wadded cotton polishing stuff is "brite-shine" you buy it at an auto shop & is very effective on most non ferous metal.

The absolute best thing for cleaning brass is hydrofluric acid. BUT it is dangerous as hell. It can kill you by sucking calcium out of your body thru your skin, till your brain won't function. It is so bdangerous that QLD whs issued a fact sheet on the dangers.

Just a cheery thaught

[Schtoo]

Soundman, that brite shine is the one I was talking about. Thanks, again...

If brasso is too strong, try silvo. Milder abrasive in it.

Then, if you want to go all the way, start with auto polishing compounds.

But heck, it's brass. If it's not going to be finished, it's going to get a certain 'patina' (yuppy word for rust/corrosion if you ask me) pretty quickly if it's used at all.

If it's a tool, let it be a tool.

[al2]

Ever tried an tropical fruit called assam (look for it in asian grocery stores). I remember the one I used was preserved (sticky and wet and looks blackish/brown with a cherry sized seed. I have used the it to clean old copper (brass I believe is made from copper+zinc+aluminium) coins without scratching it. Ever tried coca cola-seems to work on stainless steel as shown on last weeks Beyond Tomorrow.

[Pat]

Bob the cannon is aimed to the south, for further protection of the invading hordes from south of the border, fleeing Victoria's renowned weather