How Does Brass Cleaner Work?

Tarnishing

Brass, like every other metal, will form a layer of oxidation when exposed to air for long periods. Brass is an alloy, which means it is a combination of two or more metals. In this case, those metals are copper and zinc. While raw steel will oxidize in the form of rust and decay, brass forms a black layer of tarnish that is positively difficult to remove. There are ways to prolong the formation of such oxidation, but in the end, the air will win.

Removal of the Clear Coat

More than likely, the brass item that is in need of a good cleaning is covered in a clear coat of sorts to help thwart the oxidation monster. No matter how old looking or tarnished the brass appears, there is a good chance that this coat still remains. For a good, thorough polishing to really work, this clear coat must be removed first. This can be used by putting a small amount of brass cleaning compound or chemical paint stripper on a soft, dry cloth and buffing it off. The reason for removing the clear coat from the brass is to contact the base metal, which is what will produce the quality shine.

Removal of Tarnish

In order for the brass to come out looking excellent, you must now remove the tarnish that is causing its dull appearance. Brass cleaners will do the trick, but if the brass is in really bad shape, it will take a lot of effort to remove. Brass cleaners that can be purchased at the store are usually low powered chemicals mixed in with some very fine abrasives which help cut through the layer of crud. Think of brass cleaner as soap and extremely fine sandpaper, all rolled up in one. Keep in mind when doing this step to always move the rag in one direction -- do not use a circle buffing technique, because the abrasives will make themselves known!

Cleaning the Brass

After the entire clear coat has been removed, and the tarnish is but a distant memory, it is time to actually clean the metal. A trick which saves a lot of money is to use lacquer thinner in this step. This stuff will cut through anything the last two steps missed, and really give the brass a super shiny luster. Of course, if the idea of using such a highly flammable liquid on your brass items seems bad to you, there is always brass cleaning solution that can be purchased at the store - you might just have to use more of it to achieve the same results.

Adding the Clear Coat

Finally, it is time to clear coat the brass. It is recommended that a professional do this step, because the chemicals they use to coat brass are not available to the general public. Most of these professionals use acrylic polyurethane to clear coat treated brass, and this stuff cannot be found at the local hardware or automotive store. However, if you would like to attempt this step yourself, many people have had great results with a urethane based clear. Just remember to apply very evenly, or the brass may appear murky and opaque. Also keep in mind that chemicals such as these will not dry in a matter of hours -- it usually takes days, so have patience!