How to Polish Brass Lamps
Polished brass gives a warm, old-fashioned glow to lamps and fixtures, but not everyone embraces the patina that comes with age and exposure to the elements. Whether you are trying to restore an outside fixture or just give a quick pick-me-up to an indoor lamp, cleaning metal can be a challenge. The following tips for polishing brass are arranged from the simplest to the most challenging. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Clean rags or polishing cloths
- Toothpaste
- Brass cleaner
- Methylene chloride-based lacquer stripper
- Very fine steel wool
- Painter's mask
- Heavy rubber gloves
- Brass lacquer
Instructions
-
How to Polish Brass Lamps
-
1
Polish a slightly tarnished indoor lamp by putting a dab of toothpaste or a commercial brass cleaner like Brasso on the lamp and rubbing it in with a soft cloth. Let it sit for a minute and then wipe off the residue with a clean cloth. Repeat until the lamp is clean.
-
2
Clean a more heavily tarnished lamp by taking it apart and polishing each piece gently with very fine steel wool. Clean the pieces with a good commercial brass cleaner and a soft cloth.
-
-
3
Restore the shine to a tarnished outdoor fixture by stripping off the lacquer.
-
4
Put on your mask and gloves and apply a very small bit of a methylene chloride-based lacquer stripper to each piece of the lamp. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes and then wipe it off. Repeat until each piece is clean.
-
5
Polish the cleaned pieces with a commercial brass cleaner, and finish any tough spots with very fine steel wool.
-
6
Reassemble the lamp and apply a new coat of lacquer. Let it dry completely before re-hanging the lamp.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Clean cloth diapers and white T-shirts and socks make excellent polishing cloths. Spray a little lacquer onto a plastic plate and dip a brush into it to re-lacquer hard-to-reach places. Keep the brush in mineral spirits between uses.
Do not ever use methylene chloride strippers indoors. They are highly toxic and must only be used in a well-ventilated area. Never use harsh abrasives on brass.
