how to clean an old metal bell?

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"Cleaning a 117 year old brass bong"

2002

I am working on my Eagle Picket project, and part of it is to make clean a big brass church bong. I have tried ketchup, vinegar, toilet bowl cleaner, and many types of commercial brass cleaner. Some of this has worked somewhat, nonetheless on the inside of the bong at that place are what expect to be machine marks, hairline cracks, and some pitting. I am looking for some sort of contumely cleaner that volition be able to go into these little nooks and crannies.

Tim F [last proper noun deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Hebron, Nebraska
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2006

I Also HAVE A FAIRLY Large Bell OFF OF A Train THAT IS PRETTY OLD. IT IS BRASS AND I HAD A FEW ESTIMATES WHICH WERE 500.00 TO 800.00 TO Make clean THE BELL UP. THESE WERE QUOTED OVER THE Telephone. I ALSO WAS TOLD IT WILL TARNISH Once more IF Not KEPT OUT OF THE WEATHER ELEMENTS. I Want TO CLEAN IT UP AND MY DAD Will MOUNT It IN A POLL Outside So Nosotros Tin RING IT WITH A ROPE. WHAT Can I USE TO REMOVE ALL THE Dark-green COLORING AND WILL IT TARNISH Really FAST BEING OUTSIDE AGAIN? THESE BELLS WERE E'er Outside Then .....
IT ALL THIS Piece of work A WASTE?

Cheers,

TINA H [concluding proper noun deleted for privacy by Editor]
HOME OWNER - North Olmsted, OHIO
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2006

I am trying to restore a U.S.Navy bell for my Male parent-in-Law right now and having a little trouble with it. When I was in the Navy, nosotros used Brass-O, with bang-up success. That might assistance y'all two out. I have also heard that using Tabasco works to smooth.

There are a couple other things that might help out...

Stable or painted surfaces should be kept dust gratuitous. Vacuum-clean all stable artifacts regularly, using the nozzle zipper with a brush. A bristle castor or a toothbrush may help to raise dust from crevices.

Sometimes surface crud tin be removed satisfactorily with soap and water. We recommend a plain soap such as "Triton Ten-100" or "Vulpex"; both are conservation canonical, in a three% solution in water. Any wet cleaning should employ deionized or distilled h2o only, and rinsing is a very important step. If the dirt that you want to remove is very greasy, "Vulpex" may be used in mineral spirits, in a 3% solution; rinse with straight mineral spirits. It is especially important to remove old smooth residues, which appear usually as dark green, gray or white deposits in cracks.

Calcareous (lime or hard h2o) deposits may reply to a 10 % solution of regular "Calgon" (sodium hexametaphosphate) in distilled or deionized water. Let the solution to soak into the crust so remove by scrubbing with stiff brushes. And then rinse thoroughly in distilled water.

Promise this helps.

Jason Aceves
- Reno, Nevada
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2007

I accept an quondam brass train bong that I have polished but I am not happy with the results. It is pitted and the brass cleaner does not seem to get the bong as polished as it should be.

Once I get information technology polished the mode I like information technology, is there anything I tin can do to preserve the end with he bell kept outside?

Thank you,

Al Clements
- Gainesville, Florida
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October two, 2009

You might endeavor a baked-on epoxy lacquer, the aforementioned as they do with brass musical instruments.

David Cox
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
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August 22, 2022

To the person working on his Eagle Project. I have polished contumely for over fifteen yrs. I do it function time. Check out my FB folio. "Bong's Brass Polishing." It sounds like you need access to a polishing bike. If the bong is badly tarnished, hand polishing will not piece of work. I wish I had continued in scouting but the beach at the time was more important. I camp a lot at Greatcoat Lookout, NC and well-nigh of the guys I grew up with are Eagle Scouts that go with me.
Robert

Robert Bell
- whiteville, North Carolina
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March 25, 2022

Hello everyone. I am currently restoring a 100+ year one-time ship bell which is constantly out in the elements of N Carolina. Salt, sand high winds, intense sun... This large bell has not been polished in several years and I am determined to smoothen the old girl. I have tried the subtle approach of some polishing compound and a softer pad. Then I tried bowl cleaner and a dark-green pad ... no luck there. Is there any other tricks to removing heavy tarnish other and so sanding and refinishing the bell again?

John Kiely
- Hatteras, Due north Carolina
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March 28, 2022

Try 5 % ammonium citrate solution (fifty gm citric acid+i lit h2o, pH must be corrected to ix with ammonia ). Spray it on or you can gel it with wallpaper glue (cellulose based). Rinse it well and then try to polish it - final but not least, virtually bells are made of statuary ... Hope information technology helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Zagreb, Croatia
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April 4, 2022

Citric acid is excellent for cleaning upwards tarnish on brass and bronze. Let us know if we tin help.

Ray Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.

McHenry, Illinois
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