[GreenKeys] Brass Tarnish

[fkamp@attbi.com]

Weiman instant tarnish remover for silver and copper is a 'dip it' sort
of polisher. It contains acidified thiouera, detergent, and corrosion
inhibitor.  There are other products similar to this.  They all seem to
work equally well.  They work great on silver, fair on copper, okay on
brass.  The bad news is that this stuff is conductive.  If the tarnished
assemblies have insulating wafers that are porous or can absorb moisture
you may never be able to free them of the soaked-in tarnish remover.

I once destroyed an old bandswitch this way.  It ended up being bright
and shiney but would break down between contacts at voltage levels much
above 100 volts.  Of course, once it arced, it was ruined.

Another product I have used is Wright's copper cream.  The copper cream
is excellent on copper and does a good job on brass but leaves a residue
that is best removed by rubbing (polishing).  It does not require
rubbing to remove the tarnish.  Of course it removes the tarnish more
quickly if rubbed.  It does require some rubbing to remove the copper
cream residue.

Regards,
Frank Kamp


Kristjan Ragnarson wrote:
> 
> Maybe I should be asking this of Martha Stewart but
> I understand she has more pressing problems at the moment so
> perhaps someone on the group has had the same problem.
>    Having recently retired from merchant marine as a deck officer
> after retiring previously from USN, both jobs required extensive
> away-from-home periods. Now you know my situation.
>    Now the problem. Many years ago at some hamfest I picked up a
> rack-mount two-row phone patch panel. The panel has been in
> storage and in Florida the climate is not kind to copper-based
> alloys. The phone jacks (telephone switchboard type) are brass.
> After years in storage, I now want to use it in my newly setup
> station (rack-mounted 'glowbug' equipment). The brass is
> tarnished so when a phone plug is inserted, it usually does not
> make good electrical contact without twisting and pushing (to
> break through the tarnish).
>    Presented this problem to XYL, the font of all knowledge for
> things domestic. She came up with a number of brass polishes but
> all required buffing to remove the tarnish. Tried using 'Q-tips'
> and small rags around end of screwdrivers, pensil erasers, etc.
> to no avail as cannot apply sufficient pressure to do the
> 'buffing'.
>    Now, the poser. Does anyone know of a liquid brass/copper
> polish that can be applied, let sit, and wash off (the board
> could be emerged in water with no problems) to remove the
> tarnish?
>    Any assistance from you domesticated groupies would be
> appreciated.
>    TIA & 73, Walt (N4GL) --- penguinoXXX@atlantic.net (take out
> the XXX) or can be gotten on this posting address of
> --- hvalverXXX@hotmail.com (again, you know what to take out).
> 
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