Brasso: U.S. Product vs. British Product

[blackstone]

I have an old fan with brass blades. I have read that Brasso is good for polishing the brass. However, searching on the internet, I seem to find that Brasso sold in the U.S. is different than Brasso sold in the U.K. Is the U.K. Brasso, sold in a can and applied with a cloth, better than the U.S. Brasso, which is apparently just a liquid. The U.S. version is also advertised as having no odor. Does that mean some powerful cleaning chemicals have been removed from the formula?

I can find Brasso Dura-glit Metal Polish Wadding online, from the U.K. Is this product unavailable in the U.S., and should I just ignore the U.S. Brasso?

http://www.britishshopabroad.com/products/Brasso-Duraglit-Metal-Polish-Wadding-(75g).html

 

[whirlcool]

I think the removal of any odor has been due to the elimination of VOC's in chemicals. VOCs are solvents that get released into the air as the paint dries. It's the stuff that makes you feel dizzy if you inhale too much of it. VOCs can cause acute symptoms, including headaches and dizziness. The long-term effects are less certain, but according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, some VOCs are suspected carcinogens. So this is why they were eliminated from items such as car waxes, furniture waxes, paints, glues, etc. Without VOC's some products can take longer to dry. Most manufacturers spin these no VOC products as being "odor free".

 

[blackstone]

Not impressed

Just bought liquid Brasso at Home Depot, using it on brass fan blades, and I must say that I'm not impressed. No abrasive quality to it. Steel wool works so much better. I don't think that Brasso is up to the task.

 

[aquarius1984]

Brasso is not abrasive at all. please post a pic of what you are using - it works by oxidising the patina that blemish's metals.

If the brassware really is very stained and brasso is not removing it then there is a build up of something else than the usual patina.

It may be grease or oils. In which case you need to be looking at washing it first in very hot water and a good degreaser i.e Dawn, Soda crystals or Swarfega.

No metal polish should ever be abrasive.

 

[supersuds]

I have a 12 inch Westinghouse fan with brass blades and cage, circa 1919. I've found the polishing method recommended by a member of fan collectors.org, Dick Boswell, works great. He uses Lysol toilet bowl cleaner and 0000 steel wool.

Cleaning a Fan (by Dick Boswell)

 

[blackstone]

This is the liquid Brasso from Hope Depot, and a "before" picture of the fan.

So far, I have removed the black paint from the metal and repainted. I am in the process of rewiring what is necessary. I am looking for a good solution to clean the brass blades and cage. The brass is not plated; it is tarnished. I've got suggestions of what to use; it's now a question of where to get it. I could also try the Lysol idea.

I know that I could polish the brass with steel wool, but I don't want to risk scratching the surface.

 

[supersuds]

Nice fan! Well worth fixing up.

I'm not posing as an expert, but using the 0000 steel wool with Lysol didn't cause any scratches on my fan. It's such fine steel wool to begin with, and the Lysol is thick and provides lubrication of a sort.

 

[davetranter]

U.K. Brasso

I beg to differ, Aquarius.... U.K. Brasso certainly USED to be abrasive. Granted, it was only a very fine suspension of abrasive in pink gloop, but we managed to wear away our military belt buckles and other brassware with it easily enough... I assume that like all other 'effective' products, it's been 'dumbed down' to the point where it's no longer 'effective'.....

All best

Dave T

 

[davetranter]

Oops... a 'PS'

It's a shame I can't edit my posts... I also wanted to say that I'm old enough to remember Dura Glit, and that I'm surprised that it's still available anywhere.

Has the O.P. (Blackstone) tried Silver Dip?? It contains some quite powerful reducing agents to remove oxidation. Not sure whether the "Goddard's" product is available Statesside??

All best

Dave T

 

[blackstone]

I googled Goddards; they list a brass/copper cleaner liquid.

I'm discovering that there are quite a few metal polishes out there, all promising results. While I'm sure everyone has their success stories, I'm starting to think about just using steel wool and elbow grease. I'm doubting that any nonabrasive liquid could do better.

Confused

 

[iej]

There are pretty strict VOC (Volatile Organic Chemicals) rules in the EU too, but it would seem the UK formulation for Brasso still contains Kerosine !

Kerosine (petroleum), hydrodesulfurized
Silicon Dioxide
Kaolinite
Kaolin
Fatty acids, C14-18 and C16-18-unsatd.
Aqua (Water)
Ammonium Hydroxide

European gloss paints no longer dry very well compared to the old days. I recently painted a hall door and the paint took 3 days to dry and it didn't really go on very well either. Quite a lot of technique involved in using non VOC paints for heavy coatings.

 

[electron1100]

Brasso

Yes the tin of Brasso I have contains ammonia and silicates so it is also good for removing grease and as it is abrasive it is excellent for polishing metals or turntable lids.

But possibley the modern USA version has been changed, T-cut would do the job aswell as any other metal polish would.

Gary

 

[g3bill]

I used brasso in '68 in Germany. Was in a small tin bottle and think it had a metal screw on cap, putting the cap on you'd feel the grittyness of the thick liquid. It wasn't very aggressive and left no noticable scratches, buffed out real nice.

For that type cleaning & worse I'd like to one day try the electroises method. Its supposed to remove most everything from metal but soft metals need caution.

Abolish EPA

 

[hoovermatic]

UPVC

Brasso is also very good at helping restore UPVC like windows/doors etc

 

[tolivac]

Sometimes you would find an old bottle of Brasso at a transmitter site-used to be used to polish transmitter coils-not a good idea-esp silver plated coils.If the Brasso or other cleaner has abrasives-they can wear away the delicate and soft silver plating.There goes the efficiency of the coil.Silver oxide is still as good a conductor as the polished metal-in these cases----LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!!!Same with silver relay-contactor contacts.Just replace when the silver button is worn away.