Everyone loves brass decorations. The gloss of the golden surface and the antique feel of the brown and green patina are equally pleasing to the eye. Regardless of your taste when choosing a brass lamp, there are many easy ways to remove dust from the brass surface to achieve the look you want.
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Question 1 of 7: Can you restore a solid brass lamp and a brass plated lamp in the same way?
Step 1. You need to be more careful when cleaning the brass plated lamp
If the lamp is made of steel or other metal coated with brass, abrasive cleaning, polishing, or varnish cleaning may scratch the surface of the brass coating. Simply clean the surface of the brass coating and rub gently.
- If the magnet sticks to the lamp, the lamp material is not solid brass.
- To test the lamp safely, run a sharp knife into the hidden area of the lamp. Bright yellow streaks indicate that the lamp is made of solid brass. Silver streaks indicate that the lamp is made of zinc or other metal coated with brass.
Question 2 of 7: How to clean old varnish on brass surface?
Step 1. Clean the varnish with a chemical liquid
The chemicals used to clean varnish from the softest to the hardest are: oven cleaning spray, varnish thinner, and methyl chloride-based paint remover. (Other types of paint bleach can damage brass.)
- Disassemble the lamp first to avoid damage to the electrical components.
- Methyl chloride is a harsh chemical; use it as a last resort and follow the safety instructions on the product label. Good ventilation, gloves, eye protection, and clothing that covers the whole body are mandatory when you use these substances.
Step 2. Use a professional to remove stubborn varnish
Because there are so many different types of varnishes and polishes, there's no one surefire way to get them off. If regular bleach doesn't work, or if you're afraid you'll damage a high-priced brass lamp, take it to an antique restoration service provider.
Question 3 of 7: How to remove oxidation on brass?
Step 1. Clean the brass with soap or rubbing alcohol
First, remove dust and oil from the brass surface with mild soap and water or scrub the area with a sponge moistened with rubbing alcohol.
Step 2. Remove stains with a ready-to-use or homemade polishing liquid
You can use a commercial brass polishing product or make your own abrasive cleaner by mixing 120 ml of vinegar, 5 ml of table salt, and enough flour to form a paste. Rub the mixture onto the brass surface with a rag and let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse with cold water and pat dry. Repeat the process until the corrosion stain is gone to your desired level.
- You can use ketchup or lemon juice instead of vinegar for acidity, and baking soda instead of salt for an abrasive effect. The more abrasive material used, the more corrosion marks will fade. However, never mix vinegar and baking soda, even though there are many DIY blogs that recommend it: mixing the two cleaning agents produces carbon dioxide and water that are not effective at cleaning brass.
- Brass polishing products are sometimes very harsh, especially when sold as an automotive product. If you want to be careful, spread the product thinly onto a washcloth and let it dry for 24 hours before using it to clean the copper.
Step 3. Clean the brass thoroughly, then polish it
Allowing the acid to stick to the brass surface can remove the stain more quickly. Wipe all traces of homemade cleaning products with a dry, lint-free cloth. Rub the brass surface again with a dry cloth or apply a light layer of brass polish if you want a more polished look.
Commercial polishes contain ammonia which can stain. However, most polishes have a thin protective layer on their surface to prevent ammonia from adhering
Question 4 of 7: How to clean old brass without removing the patina?
Step 1. Use soapy water or rubbing alcohol to clean the lights at home
Dip a washcloth or soft sponge in the soap and water or rubbing alcohol mixture. Wipe the brass surface to remove dust and grease. This method will not remove the patina through the oxidation process unless the brass condition is very bad.
If the brass still looks dirty after cleaning, it may be due to uneven oxidation. You may need to remove some of the patina with a softer polish, such as a jewelry polishing cloth
Step 2. Use a brush and cotton swab to clean valuables or items that are severely corroded
This is actually too much to do on your own, but if antique brass lamps at home cost more than your own car, you should work like a professional conservator in a museum. Remove the dust with a dry toothbrush, then reach the crevices with a paint brush. Remove stubborn grease and dirt with a cotton swab or cotton swab dipped in a few drops of mild detergent.
- A boar bristle brush or other natural bristle brush is recommended for this process.
- Wear cotton gloves when cleaning high-value metal objects.
- Any dirt that cannot be removed may require a special cleaning agent that is difficult for the average consumer to find, such as methanol.
Question 5 of 7: How to polish brass without damaging the patina?
Step 1. Wipe the fragile parts with a cotton swab, rag, or plastic eraser
The lightest option is to use a cotton swab or lint-free cloth. PVC pencil erasers are slightly more effective at removing dust and are safe to use, except for brass items that are badly damaged and heavily corroded. Rub one of these tools against the brass surface to remove dust and grease from the surface.
Minimize the number of fingerprints that stick to the lamp while you work
Step 2. Rub the surface of the brass with a slightly hard tool to make it more glossy
Slightly harsher substances can provide better polishing results, but also run the risk of removing some of the patina. The options below are listed in order starting with the softest substances, but actually they are not all very harsh. Start working from a hidden area in the lamp to test the results. Rub the brass in a quick and gentle circular manner to make the surface appear smooth and shiny.
- The still hard gray eraser
- A runny paste from a mixture of lime and water. Apply this mixture thinly and rub it along the grooves on the brass surface.
- Jewelry polishing cloth (start with the red side of the fabric, then finish with the softer outer side of the fabric)
Question 6 of 7: How to polish brass so that it shines like glass?
Step 1. Use a buffing wheel for quick results
Attach a stiff brass polish to a grinder or electric drill. Apply a small amount of Tripoli lubricant or other brass cleaning product to the underside of the polish. Smooth all the components of the lamp by rubbing it into the bottom of the polish and moving it around until you get an even result.
- Wear eye protection when using the polishing wheel.
- For best results, repeat the process using a new, coarser polish and polishing product, such as jeweler's rouge, then blue rouge.
Step 2. Gradually rub the sandpaper, starting from low grit to high grit
If you don't have a polishing wheel, use wet sandpaper or an abrasive cloth instead. Start by setting up a low grit sandpaper (no more than 600 grit), then gently rub the sandpaper straight on while wetting the brass every now and then to keep it lubricated. Once the major scratches and stains on the brass surface are gone and the color appears even, repeat the same process with high-grit sandpaper (eg 1000 grit, 1500, then 2000 grit). The longer you continue the sanding process with high-grit sandpaper, the more shiny the surface of the brass object will be.
- Sandpaper gives a more even finish, whereas abrasive cloths don't completely remove stains, but they cover the stain well.
- If you use sandpaper, make sure to use wet sandpaper and soak the item in water first – for at least 15 minutes or overnight, if you can. Foam-coated sandpaper is easier to use for scrubbing irregularly shaped objects and getting into small crevices in the lamp.
Step 3. Finish the process by rubbing the brass polish on
For a shinier surface after sanding, rub the brass polish on the lamp with a paper towel. Add polish as needed and wipe when it has accumulated and turns black. Use a lint-free cloth for the final polish and rub the cloth until no visible streaks are visible.
This is not necessary if you are using a polishing wheel
Question 7 of 7: How to protect the lamp from corrosion?
Step 1. The protective wax is able to provide protection without changing the appearance of the lamp
Use bleached microcrystalline wax (such as Renaissance wax) for best results. Gently wipe the wax onto the lamp with a soft cloth and scrub for a few minutes. Repeat the process for a second layer after an hour, then a third after 30 minutes (optional).
- For a museum-like restoration, first mix the wax with Stoddard's solvent product in the same ratio, such as Varsol. Let the mixture sit until the liquid has evaporated before rubbing it on the lamp. This will make it easier for the wax to stick to all of the crevices, but the method above is actually too much to use in restoring an ordinary brass lamp at home.
- If you can't find a microcrystalline wax, use beeswax or another natural wax. Synthetic waxes are more difficult to clean, making further handling more difficult.
Step 2. Varnish is much more difficult to apply and can change the appearance of the lamp
Apply an even layer of varnish to coat the entire exposed brass surface. Use spray varnish if the lamp has a lot of grooves and crevices that are difficult to coat evenly. Do not touch the lamp until the varnish is completely dry or within the estimated drying time indicated on the product label.
Varnish is much more difficult to remove than wax. Test a small area on the surface of the lamp first to make sure you like the final result
Tips
- Disassemble the lamp before washing or wiping it with water so that the electrical components do not get wet.
- Metal objects buried in the ground usually corrode so badly that they require the help of a professional conservator to have them repaired without damaging them.
- Protective wax can interfere with the cleaning and polishing process. However, this substance is very easy to clean. Simply wipe the wax with odorless mineral spirits. Do this work in a well-ventilated area and do not touch the spiritus directly.
