[TheForge] bronze cleanup

[Ries Niemi]

On Apr 24, 2006, at 12:12 PM, Wayne Ackman wrote:

> I am working on a fireplace screen with some bronze elements.  I have 
> forged them now and was wondering what is the best way to clean them 
> up.  After wire brushing, there is still black on the face, etc.  I 
> would like to get them bright and shiny like the bronze was to begin 
> with.
>
> TIA
> Wayne
> _______________________________________________

Sometimes I integrate bronze and brass with stainless, and send the 
whole shebang out to get electropolished. Electropolishing will NOT 
bring the bronze back to shiny- but it will remove all the black, 
leaving it ready for a light polish with a scotchbrite disc on the 4 
1/2" grinder.
You can try citric acid, with or without the electricity- I have a 
friend who has been using this for electropolishing stainless, and it 
works pretty well- and its nontoxic, relatively easy to handle. 
Commercially, he uses Citri-Surf brand, but I am told many grocery 
stores still carry citric acid. For power, you can use a battery 
charger.

Or maybe just use the scotchbrite pad- this will only work on 
relatively flat surfaces. Tight stuff, maybe a stainless steel 
toothbrush?

Ries Niemi
Industrial Artist

http://www.RiesNiemi.com