What grade

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

I've noted on many occasion the wheel hub caps on my 3" Burrell tarnish easily and have copper spots appear on them so I'm thinking that over the winter I may make some new ones, so what's the best grade of brass to use to get a good finish and polish ?

H

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Is it daft to suggest gilding?

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Thanks for suggestion but I don't think it would be suitable, correct me if I,m mistaken

H

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

gold plating won't tarnish

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

C464 marine grade, will still tarnish but won’t pit.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I seem to remember a polish for brass which claimed to extend the life between polishing.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Harry,

Why not try a clear varnish after polishing? Rustins made a good one that works well and would save you the effort of making new caps.

I agree with you that gold plating might look too bright; it does dull slightly with aging but the process is slow.

Regards

Brian

Edited for punctuation.

Edited By Brian Wood on 14/10/2019 15:56:04

[Grindstone CowboyParticipant @grindstonecowboy]

I can heartily recommend Renaissance Wax to prevent tarnishing once you have polished them. And for the polishing, I'd go with Solvol Autosol.

(Other suppliers are available, it was just the first link I found)

Rob

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Posted by Brian Wood on 14/10/2019 15:55:12:

I agree with you that gold plating might look too bright; it does dull slightly with aging but the process is slow.

I believe it's possible to get gilding foils in all sorts of metal colours and shades Also many moons ago I dismantled and re-lacquered an ancient saxaphone using cellulose rattle can that was essentailly a clear coat with a tint of brass. Not sure if that's still available (came from an auto paint shop in Uxbridge)

pgk

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

The copper spots are appearing because of de-zincification suggesting the hubs are made from an ordinary high zinc brass. This stuff is easy to buy and nice to machine but not good at resisting corrosion.

An alternative might be Naval Brass (CZ112) or CZ132, or even a low tin Bronze like Admiralty Brass.

Finding someone to sell it in small quantities may be tricky. My quick web search only found people set up to sell to industry. Dunno how big the hubs are but if there's enough metal in scrap plumbing fittings, they're made of corrosion resistant alloys.

Dave

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

You can get naval brass from M-machine metals.

David

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Thanks for all the answers, I don't mind a quickly with the Brasso but the copper colored spots on the present one do annoyed me

H

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by Brian Wood on 14/10/2019 15:55:12:

Harry,

Why not try a clear varnish after polishing? Rustins made a good one that works well and would save you the effort of making new caps.

…

Brian

Their clear metal lacquer works well for me.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I used Windsor and Newton spray lacquer on the brass parts of this Westone Thunder 1 when I smartened it up. It works well and can be removed with White Spirit, it's meant for protecting artworks and for conservation of articles. The original lacquer came off with meths so may have been shellac.

Neil

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