Woman’s Logic

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

So, because I now have a workshop for metal, it naturally follows that the Brass Firegrate set which my good lady prizes can now be cleaned.

By Me.

Now!

Now that I have volunteered for the job – how should I begin to get the brass clean? Ideally I would like to give it a good soak in something to get rid of the most of the ingrained tarnish, then I am going to have to set to with a polishing mop. Mop and soap (abrasive) I have, but I am looking for an easy way out here

graham.

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Patina, patina, patina.

People pay huge premiums for this.

Geoff – Sparrow nests up after thinking about it for 5 years! I get there eventually.

[Mike TeamanParticipant @miketeaman64279]

Most of the "modern" firegrates have a coating on them to "preserve" them. They usually deteriorate, flake, degrade or whatever. If yours has this coating, it can be stripped back to solid brass (assuming that it is?) with a metal polish or abrasive (steel wool?) and polished. The trouble is that once you polish, you need to repolish on a regular basis or find a protectant that can do a better job than the one you already (may or may not already) have. Or have one of the "downstairs" staff do it for you!

…. assuming that makes sense ………………. which it probably doesn't!

Polishing brass can be very therapeutic …… and time consuming!

Mike

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Some might say thin endof the wedge..
Others might say small price to pay…
I see it as excuse to get more toys…

Pickel and polish.

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Oh and opportunity to establish brass or plate..just for future reference. ..

[Andrew Moyes 1Participant @andrewmoyes1]

I'd paint it black and have done with it.

Andrew

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

Cream of Tartar mixed to stiff paste with lemon juice .

Apply and scrub with small brushes . Toothbrushes for detail areas .

Works in seconds .

Eye + hand protection advised .

Commercial mixes based on same ingredients used to be available . One make was AmWay (US)

MikeW

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Graham

Without seeing the state of your brass it's difficult to judge however HOROLENE is a pretty effective way of cleaning clock plates. Make up a bucket full and dunk the item in . See HERE and search for Horolene – elbow grease may be cheaper!

Norman

Edited By NJH on 11/01/2014 18:12:25

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Diane DO NOT READ THIS !!

Only way to address women's logic is with men's logic.

Just get any old cleaning material, Brasso will be fine.

Spend 10 minutes polishing a bit then go off and do what you want for the next hour.

Storm into the house in an evil mood and curse that this is hard work and all you have to show for an hour and ten minutes is this. Waving said poker around.

have a cup of tea, 'calm down' and say this thing isn't going to beat me.

Outside again 10 minutes cleaning, one hour making bits.

Anyone who sends this post to Ower Gert is dead…………………..

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

Hi guys, thanks for the comments.

Firstly, it is not a Firegrate, it is a Firegrate Set – Poker, Tongs, Toasting Fork and stand, it is solid brass and it is also early 1900's. If it was worth anything I wouldn't be cavalier with it, it isn't, I will

Sisal mop to start with it is then. I will do a before and after

Well you didn't think I was going to sit there with a tin of Brasso did you?

graham.

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

Very good John, I like your thinking

Posted by John Stevenson on 11/01/2014

18:17:27:

Diane DO NOT READ THIS !!

Only way to address women's logic is with men's logic.

Just get any old cleaning material, Brasso will be fine.

Spend 10 minutes polishing a bit then go off and do what you want for the next hour.

Storm into the house in an evil mood and curse that this is hard work and all you have to show for an hour and ten minutes is this. Waving said poker around.

have a cup of tea, 'calm down' and say this thing isn't going to beat me.

Outside again 10 minutes cleaning, one hour making bits.

Anyone who sends this post to Ower Gert is dead…………………..

[Swarf, Mostly!Participant @swarfmostly]

Hi there, Graham,

Once polished, try saxophone lacquer, from your local branch of Boosey & Squawks or any other good music shop!

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

 

Edited By Swarf, Mostly! on 11/01/2014 18:58:23

[SpringbokParticipant @springbok]

Go to your boots get a packet of citric acid, mix in a large bucket put items into take out after a while brasso and tell dear wife what a clever person you are.

bob

Edited By Springbok on 11/01/2014 19:28:42

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Don't make too good a job of it or you will have to do all the other brasswork in the house.

[mickypeeParticipant @mickypee]

Autosmart "Smart Wheels" It is used for cleaning brake dust off wheels. Use it all the time for cleaning engine components etc, brilliant stuff. Spray it on, wash it off. Tell her it took you two hours and play to your hearts content.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Shame, a firegrate set. If it was the grate I was going to say black it with zebrite

Neil

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

I'm confused, how do you combine 'women' and 'logic' in the same sentence …………………?

Edited By ChrisH on 11/01/2014 21:47:05

[andrew winksParticipant @andrewwinks64215]

After the cleanup and polish, give it a coat of Protecta clear, google Everbrite Coatings. Specially made for clear coating of polished metal surfaces such as copper flues above wood heaters.Takes high temps. Hellishly expensive, must be a cheaper equal to it in the UK.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

JohnS & ChrisH,

Stop it please!

My sides are hurting and ready to burst.

Geoff – My day has been made with laughter.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by John Stevenson on 11/01/2014 18:17:27:

Diane DO NOT READ THIS !!

Only way to address women's logic is with men's logic.

Just get any old cleaning material, Brasso will be fine.

Spend 10 minutes polishing a bit then go off and do what you want for the next hour.

Storm into the house in an evil mood and curse that this is hard work and all you have to show for an hour and ten minutes is this. Waving said poker around.

have a cup of tea, 'calm down' and say this thing isn't going to beat me.

Outside again 10 minutes cleaning, one hour making bits.

Anyone who sends this post to Ower Gert is dead…………………..

You've done this before, haven't you.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Stick the bits in citric acid over night (the home brew shop should be cheaper than Boots, or try the garden shop), then a few minutes with the Brasso and an old tooth brush. Then get one of the clear coatings, preferably a heat proof one, you should be right for a few years before you need to clean them again. Ian S C

[Richard MarksParticipant @richardmarks80868]

Gentlemen

I bow to the wisdom on this forum and the comments based on experience and logic but I think most of you have missed the main point, If the said gentleman cleans up the brass to the satisfaction of SWMBO then their job is done! It is then up to SWMBO to keep it in a polished condition, dont go down the avenue of varnishing it as it never really works and can actually look worse, this information is based on 40 years experience and training. ( by my wife )

Regards

[Martin CottrellParticipant @martincottrell21329]

On the subject of "woman's logic", I'm reminded of the time, a few years ago, when I came home from work to find my wife thumbing through my latest, unread copy of Model Engineer. Not wishing to spoil her enjoyment of her new found hobby, I made a cuppa and waited patiently for her to finish perusing. Worried thoughts started to cross my mind of maybe having to share my workshop with her and the more terrifying thought of one of her 'tidy-ups' in there!

After about 10 minutes of seemingly intense study she looked up and exclaimed "what a cheeky b****r! Someone has put an advert in the classifieds saying ' top slide wanted for a Colchester Student'. " Puzzled, I asked her why she thought the advert was cheeky. "Well" she replied " it's obvious really, you model engineers are all old, he's just saying he's a student to try and get his top slide a bit cheaper!"

It still makes me chuckle when I think about it! Luckily for me her interest ended there and my workshop remains a disorganised, untidy haven only refered to by her as 'the Dark Side'!

Regards, Martin.

[DustyParticipant @dusty]

Just for information, the proper name for said implements is 'fireside companion'. My idea of a fireside companion is a glass of single malt.

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