What is the best way to clean tarnish off brass locos ?

Got back into the hobby after 20 odd years. I had a number of brass locos
that I kept wrapped in plastic, in their boxes but some still managed to get
tarnished

Google search didn't get me far so I am posting here.

Thanks

On Jan 17, 2:19 pm, "tex shalter" invalid.com> wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This might do the job...

http://www.ehow.com/how_14868_make-copper-brass.html

I don't know if it would damage the locomotives, though.

Bill

tex shalter wrote:

I'm sure one can buy brass polish where you live. Here in NZ we have
"Brasso", a mildly abrasive polish intended specifically for brass. The
same firm makes a silver polish named ... (wait for it) "Silvo"
which is apparently the same formulation but with considerably finer
abrasive particles.

I would use a brass or silver polish along with a felt head polishing
bit in a Dremel tool set at a slow running speed. You might need to use
a soft bristle brush fitting in the Dremel for cleaning detail parts.

"tex shalter" invalid.com> wrote

Only way I've ever found to get all the nooks and crannies perfectly clean
again is to use a low-pressure air gun and fine grit aluminum oxide
particles to clean off all of the old clear lacquer coat and tarnish. The
trick is to go slowly and use just enough air pressure, lest you sandblast
some of the fine details right off the surface!

As Greg stated, you then need to spray the nekked brass with another coat or
two of clear finish to protect it from tarnishing again, and it will do so
in just a few days if given a chance.

Hint: don't use gloss lacquer for this, as a gloss finish makes your brass
locos look really dumb! Nearly all brass originally came from the factory
with either a flat or a satin finish.

Pete

tex shalter wrote:

Tomato sauce. I kid you not. Canned Hunt's tomato sauce.

Its slow, but safe.

On 1/17/2008 2:20 PM jJim McLaughlin spake thus:

I believe you, but what's doing the work is the acidity. I'd sooner use
something less messy, like white vinegar. But heck, if all you've got is
sauce, use it. (Actually, the sauce may be better for some places, as
it'll stick and not slide off so easily.)

OK, Thanks everybody.
soft acid from lemon /vinegar or tomato sounds easier to use than rubbing
with metal polish. I paste it on with a brush and let the acid work until
it starts to crust. It's the paste removal that becomes the trick.

I think there is already a lacquer finish though. I was tempted to dilute
some muriatic acid (it's VERY strong) But wouldn't require much work to
remove it and I know it can cut right thru the lacquer.

On 1/18/2008 7:30 AM tex shalter spake thus:

Use lacquer thinner (acetone or equivalent) to remove the lacquer. Much,
much faster and less messy than using acids, etc., which can corrode
your model.

Just follow the usual precautions: lots of ventilation, etc.