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Refinishing copper doors

I purchased some beautiful antique copper-clad doors. Well, they have turned into quite a headache. Paying someone $2500 to refinish the set is not an option so I am looking for basic instruction on -1. removing the heavy patina, 2. polishing and 3. clear coating. Did use some lemons with salt and that took off some of the heavy stuff but not sure about what to use for polishing or buffing. Any suggestions that will help me out? Thanks,

Brenda Parks
do-it-yourselfer - Houston, Texas
2005

You can use 5% ammonium citrate solution (mixture of 50 gms citric acid [on eBay or Amazon] /1 lit water+ some ammonia [on eBay or Amazon], pH must be 9).As lacquer You can use Incralac [on eBay or Amazon] or any similar proprietary product.For polishing any good proprietary polish for copper must work.

Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia

I also have some old copper doors, they were painted w/ about 40 coats. I used paint remover gel [on eBay or Amazon] , 8 times each side, then pressure washed, then bathed in citric acid . I then used standard copper pan cleaner, Kleen King [affil links]. That cleaner and the citric acid causes the copper to discolor. I have heard that called salmoning. It is sort of ugly. But then I finished it off using Brasso [on eBay or Amazon], and a car polisher. They came out good - really good.
I have some pics for you.
I have not varnished mine yet.
I have a favor - my doors were missing the door knobs and hinges when I bought them, could you please send me pics of your knob and hinges, so I can duplicate more accurately.

Thanks,

Tim Tucker
Air Engineering - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2006