Brass finishing

[Tom Servinsky]

Greg,
I live near Vero Beach,Florida which has a wonderful industrial chemical
supply company called VeroChem.  They put their own name on many of their
products so it's not a brand name found in stores. I would advise you to
contact your local chemical industrial supply company and ask them about
these solutions.  Hydrochloric acid is the main ingredient. Also remember
you must follow it up with a neutralizer bath or your brass cleaning will be
counter productive. Warning this will not work well with steel such as
action screws.
Tom Servinsky, RPT
You also might want to call James Reeder, Grand Rapids, Michigan and ask him
about "clock cleaner" and where to buy it.  Apparently it does the same
thing.
Tom Servinsky
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 9:36 PM
Subject: Re: Brass finishing


> Tom,
>     This is a great tip. Although the occasional game of hide and seek can
be
> fun when you're trying to procrastinate anyway. Do you have a particular
brand
> you are fond of?
>
> Greg
>
>
> Tom Servinsky wrote:
>
> > Hi Wim,
> >   We have been using an acid wash for sometime and have found this to be
the
> > best and safest way to clean brass.
> > We use a pre-packaged formula sold as a tile & porcelain cleaner.  The
> > active ingredient is Hydrochloric acid.
> > Simply soak the hinges in this for a few minutes and presto...clean.
> > We then follow that up with a citrus  clean/polisher which neutralizes
the
> > acid. Otherwise the acid will continue to eat away. Water also will
> > neutralize the acid. Next wipe with a clean cloth and you are
done..except
> > for the clear lacquer coating.
> > Long lid hinges are a breeze with this stuff, as with other delicate
brass
> > parts.  This beats getting on your hands and knees looking for the small
> > hinge which just thrown from the buffing wheel to the other end of your
> > shop.
> > This concept originated from James Reeder's shop which uses a similar
> > solution sold as "clock cleaner". It basically does the same thing.
> > We have dramatically reduce all of our buffing time down to a small
> > percentage of work.
> > Give a try.
> > Tom Servinsky, RPT
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <Wimblees@AOL.COM>
> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 3:21 PM
> > Subject: Re: Brass finishing
> >
> > > In a message dated 6/12/01 9:31:21 AM Central Daylight Time,
> > > rinkyd@pacbell.net writes:
> > >
> > > << How do you go about cleaning, polishing and finishing brass hinges?
> > >  Thanks
> > >
> > >  Phil Frankenberg
> > >  Chico Ca.
> > >   >>
> > > Find a good plater, and pay them to do the work. Be sure to get it
> > laquered.
> > >
> > > Willem
>
> --
> Greg Newell
> Greg's Piano Forté
> 12970 Harlon Ave.
> Lakewood, Ohio 44107
> 216-226-3791
> mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
>
>