Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Stripping brass for antique restoration

2004

Hi,

I am restoring an antique chest and the repro. bail pulls are a shiny brass. I know I can age them by using ammonia [on eBay or Amazon] and pennies but my question is, how do you get the protective finish off first?

Thanks.

Ken Mallory
homeowner - Cambridge, NY, US

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I wasn't clear on whether this is already an antique, but if it is, then the only coating on them would probably be brass lacquer, and the way to remove it is with lacquer thinner [on eBay or Amazon]. But if these repro. pulls are quite new, the finish could be anything from lacquer to polyurethane to a baked powder finish; they might not even be brass at all, but a brass tinted electrophoretic lacquer on nickel plating (if you remove the lacquer, you remove the yellow color).

Unfortunately, high-tech finishes can be like high-tech electronics or high-tech automobiles -- a consumer can't do much with them. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004

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Do the "high-tech" brass finished you were referring to include brass door knobs from the 1960's and 1970's. I am pondering stripping the finish off my door knobs. They seem to have a very pretty soft brass patina where the finish has scratched or chipped off. What would be your best estimate of a finish remover to try?

Thanks so much.

Margaret Bryant
- Richmond, VA USA
2007

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The first brass-tinted electrophoretic lacquers came on the market in the mid to late '70s as I recall, so I think these knobs are real brass or real brass plating. The first remover I would try would be lacquer thinner [on eBay or Amazon]. If this doesn't remove it you'll need to use a nasty paint stripper known as Aircraft Stripper.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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I have an antique clock (approx. 80 yrs.old) and some of the bass pieces were painted with a gold lamme type of finish. how do I strip this off without damaging the brass?
TIA

mrusell
consumer - canada
2007