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46095
Cleaning brass railings with muriatic acid
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Hello. My mother has brass railings outside her home. The railings
are deep brown, very dark and brasso or home remedies do nothing. I
bought a gallon of
Muriatic Acid [link is to product info at Amazon] (diluted). I
sprayed a part with water and brushed on some muratic acid to see
what would happen. The brown came off like magic however the brass
"under" it seems raw and copper like. I want to wait and see what
happens overnight however even if the railing part is fine, how do I
get it to be shiny? or more "brass" like? I'd appreciate any help.
I've looked into having them professionally re-done however the cost
is way too high. Thanks so much!
Maria Yanga
Home owner - Philadelphia, PA
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Muriatic acid is too dangerous for this use, Maria. I think you
will get nearly as good results with vinegar plus salt.
There are a number of different general types of brass polishes
and you are correct that this would take forever with Brasso or those
like it. But other polishes are designed to chemically attack the
brass and might work fast enough;
Revere copper cleaner [link is to product info at Amazon] is one
example of that type. The raw orange or salmon look comes from
dissolving the zinc out of the brass; it will eventually go away, I
think, but the Brasso [link is to product info at Amazon]
should mellow it pretty quickly. Getting it shiny, however, might
require power buffing. Good luck with it!
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Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
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