> Hydrochloric acid is the main ingredient. For brass, I've used muriatic acid, which is a hydrochloric dilution from a swimming pool supply house instead of an industrial supply house, to good effect. I find it leaves the brass with a slight "frosty" appearance that buffs up quickly and nicely. I've mostly used it to clean and demineralize water faucet parts rather than to prettify hinges, but it works pretty darn good with both. Hint: don't go off and leave parts soaking in this brew. Be there, and be ready, because the parts "age" pretty quickly to the point that parts of parts will become past parts of parts if you let your attention wander for too long. And yes, wear gloves. Wear goggles. Wear armor. Wear a respirator (two if possible), and do it outdoors (on the neighbor's lawn if they aren't home). The stuff will cheerfully digest you if you let it. Ron N
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