Is there a way to clean tarnished brass keys ?

Question

I cut keys part time and some of the blanks have sit around for a long time and have developed some tarnish. Is there a solution that I can soak the keys in to remove the tarnish? I have Brasso, but the keys are really hard to polish with all the grooves in them. I tried a solution of Amonia, baking soda and white vinagar that I found, but it didn't work. Does anyone have any recipe that will work?

Answer 1

Get a dremel with a polishing head and continue to use brasso. Chemically, you will be hard pressed to find something. Just use a dremel with a fine polishing head.

Answer 2

Best Way To Clean Brass

Answer 3

use tammrind solution prepare the solution or paste of tammirind with water and then soak the keys for a day then wash it if u stillfind the tarnish continue to soak it for some more time say 3 days it will come out neately

Answer 4

To polish for a soft finish: wash in hot, soapy water, rinse and dry. Make a paste of whiting and boiled linseed oil. Apply with a soft cloth and rub to remove tarnish. Wipe off excess paste and polish with a clean cloth. To remove heavy tarnish, difficult stains and corrosion: wash in hot, soapy water or a weak ammonia and water solution and rinse. Dampen a soft cloth in hot vinegar, then dip in table salt and rub the brass, or make a paste of flour, salt and vinegar. You may need several applications. When the item is clean, wash in hot, soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly, then polish with a cloth moistened with lemon oil. If preferred, dip a slice of fresh lemon into table salt and rub over the corroded area. Wash, rinse and dry carefully.

Answer 5

Skip the "Brasso" the "Works" and everything you've ever learned about cleaning brass or silver, copper, etc. Go to Wal-Mart and get "Tarnez" in a black plastic bottle. You dip whatever into it and rinse it off, takes seconds. You won't believe it and no, I don't have stocks in the company.

Answer 6

http://www.prohardware.ca/tgen.htm

Some tips from this web-site are listed below:

To clean brass, combine 1/4 cup salt with enough vinegar to dissolve. Add flour to make a paste.
To clean brass, combine 1/4 cup salt with enough vinegar to dissolve. Add flour to make a paste.
A lemon peel dipped in salt will clean tarnished brass.
If brass or copper, use a soft cloth and some ketchup. Clean off with a damp cloth and rub to polish.
To clean brass or copper, wash thoroughly then dip a soft cloth in vinegar and then in whiting or salt and scour the metal. Wash and dry, then rub with a soft cloth.
If brass isn’t overly tarnished, wash it in water in which potatoes have been boiled.

Answer 7

Use brasso but use a toothbrush to clean the keys. That works fine.

Answer 8

liquids such as 'brasso' are available in any hardware shop. If the brass was not cleaned for a long time, you need to repeatedly clean the thing before you get really good shine. and and you need to clean once a week to keep it shiny.

Answer 9

Well, the flea marketers use the liquid toilet bowl cleaner.. that cheap one called "the works".. to clean all types of things, old pots, tools, bbq grates... bunches of stuff.

Give it a try with one key and if it doesn't work.. got any rusty tools OR a toilet... (smiles) can always use the rest of it.

JUST AN IDEA THAT MIGHT JUST WORK
Good Luck

Answer 10

put vinegar and salt in a jar with your keys and let them sit.
Dont know why it works - but it does on old pennies, so it might help here.
Good Luck