Polishing Old Copper Fire Extinguishers

letter 22177 (2003) I found a couple of those old presumably copper water filled fire extinguishers in my grand fathers attic...can some one tell me how to polish them, I've seen them about and they are quite the eye catcher...I've rubbed endlessly with little results. Warmest regards and thank you, Bene B - Orland Park, Illinois

They are good looking units aren't they. I have one hanging on my living room wall for many years now. These were baking soda, acid fire extinguishers. To activate you turned them upside down, dumping the baking soda into the acid water. You can easily see this effect by putting baking soda into vinegar in your kitchen.

The results of the mixing were the production of Carbon dioxide gas, and pressure to propel the liquid at the fire, and some extinguishing through the production of the carbon dioxide.

Many of these old copper and brass extinguishers were coated with lacquer to retain their brightness as they hung in both the office and shop areas of businesses.

Try first washing the outside with either lacquer thinner [link is to product info at Amazon], MEK / methyl ethyl ketone [link is to product info at Amazon], or Acetone [link is to product info at Rockler]. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL, as all of these are highly flammable solvents. Be sure to remove the hose as these solvents will eat the rubber hose alive. Then after removal of the lacquer coating polish with a good quality copper and brass cleaner. To keep it looking nice for many years thereafter, re-apply the clear lacquer coat

Hope that helps !

Martin M
sports mfg. - St. Louis, Missouri

Ed. note: For larger quantities of brass lacquer, try finishing.com's supporting advertiser G.J. Nikolas. For a single spray can, try Staybrite brass lacquer [link is to product info and a source].

I have cleaned up several of them and they were very tarnished i just used a cleanser polish the one i used was called Barkeepers Friend [link is to product info at Amazon]. it is specifically for copper brass stainless It is a powder form i used this to take the heavy tarnish off then i followed up with a liquid polish called Brasso [link is to product info at Amazon] and yes you will have to rub and rub and rub a lot just takes a little time if you have patience I'm sure you can do it

Chris I
- Irvine California

The best way to get a great shine on those brass or chrome extinguishers is to take them to a metal polishing shop. Just make sure to tell them that the wheel has to turn AWAY from the edges of any of the labels. Then have them dip them in the clear coat that they use. Should cost you about $60.00 tops,but you will have an unbelievable finish that will last for years.

Ronald R
- Pomona, California

When I was in the Navy we used Nevr-Dull [link is to product info at Amazon] and bug juice (kool aid) usually yellow or orange color due to the color. It worked well for navy copper and brass. Never used it on fire extinguishers.

Good luck.

Brian O
- Highspire, Pennsylvania

Hi Bene,

I'm not sure from the date of your original post if you've done anything to that copper extinguisher, but if you're still deciding, I have to agree with Ronald P., from Pomona, Calif. I worked at a metal polishing shop and I restored two very similar old copper "Alert" extinguishers while I worked there. They came out looking fantastic. I converted them into floor lamps and I use them to this day. One sits next to me at my computer!! I did them over seven years ago and they still look incredible. So, I'd suggest taking it to a good shop, you'll save yourself a ton of time and it'll come out looking tens times better than if you did it yourself. Be sure to have it spray lacquered (several coats)immediately after it is polished, the shop should be able to do that as well. If you do get this message, you should update us on which decision you made, and send in a photo of how the extinguisher turned out. I'd be interested... Good luck with it.

David De Ridder
- East Quogue, New York

Do not use MEK / methyl ethyl ketone [link is to product info at Amazon]. This solvent though very good is highly hazardous, you need to use a protective mask, goggles [link is to product info at Amazon], and protective gloves [link is to product info at Amazon]. You can use a very mild acid to clean off highly tarnished areas. Again follow directions carefully.

Howard Richards
- Ingleside, Illinois

Yes, MEK is absorbed through the skin and can cause liver failure... nasty stuff... when i polished mine i used Top Brite... its non abrasive and works wonders on brass, copper, silver, gold pretty much anything.

Can anyone tell me what kind of acid was used in these extinguishers?

Brian James
- Boston, Massachusetts

Vinegar is an acid and fairly mild. That is used for acetic mild reactions(about 20%). A stronger acid would producer a larger reaction, causing more pressure.

2 safe ways to clean brass, copper, gold, or most tarnished items, start with pepper sauce. Yes, Tabasco!! it cleans it very well (it has vinegar in it) and follow up with mayonnaise, which has vinegar too. The oil in it will leave a gloss. This will protect the finish. it is a regular item, need to polish often, after all, it is copper and/or brass.

Norman Stephan
- Atlanta, Georgia

I have the same one almost, it had a green paint on it that I thought was tarnish,so I wheeled it like I would do a truck aluminum fuel tank.I put my 2 vector variable speed angle grinder-polishers in 2 vises. one with a yellow united pacific 8' airway pad the other with a united white pad, i use a 2 lb block of brown Tripoli [link is to product info at Eastwood] rouge with the yellow pad which is course to get the heavy stuff off then a jacksonlea green 2 lb block to take the swirl marks out, then wipe polish with my Brooklyn ball busters best aluminum polish and a terry cloth rag, when it's cool /damp out it take a few minutes to dry, a old timer showed me a shortcut, i get a coffee can and fill it with flour, i dip a dry rag in the flour and wipe it off.
the flour pulls the oxidation out a little better, dries it off faster and keeps your hands cleaner.
DON'T BUFF TO HARD, I found out that they're not really copper, mine is copper coated.
happy polishing.
Rick

Richard Masculine
- Middletown, New York

I've cleaned many of these extinguishers with a mixture that is quite simple. Find a container large enough to submerge the extinguisher. Fill container with equal parts coke and ammonia. Submerge extinguisher and let stand. The longer you let it sit, the better it works. Hope this helps.

Sara Miller
- Forney, Texas

Many years ago my husband was given a Konus Kemik. I think it is a fire extinguisher but i can't be sure. I would like to know more of its background and how it ended up and if any parts of it are missing.

Jela Stewart
- united kingdom

June 15, 2009 TO CLEAN YOUR EXTINGUISHERS, USE OLD COTTON SOCKS, LIKE CREW SOCKS, AND BRASSO. PUT BRASSO ON THE SOCK AND RUB THE EXTINGUISHER. THE SOCK WILL TURN BLACK AND GREENISH. DO A SECTION AT A TIME. LET THE BRASSO DRY EACH TIME AND RUB THE AREA WITH A CLEAN SOCK, CONTINUE UNTIL YOU GET THE SHINE YOU WANT. John Todd - Courtland, Mississippi October 7, 2009 What will remove the heavy green and black tarnish from Copper Fire Extinguishers with Brass Name Plates? craig teglia hobby - Las Vegas, Nevada October 19, 2009 I have polished a number of these from total junk to a bright shine. I have found you can put every chemical known to man but it just removes the top layer. You have to bite the bullet go out and get a bench grinder or preferably a polisher from Harbor Freight. Get a buffing kit comprising three different buffing wheels. Purchase two grades of polishing compound and start getting filthy. One a piece like yours it will take about eight hours of actual work but when it is done you will be extremely satisfied. To purchase these items is very inexpensive. I save these pieces up over the summer from estate sales and spend hours upon hours polishing. You will kill an extreme amount of time but the satisfaction factor is well worth it. David Donaldson - Brimfield, Illinois