Summary for copper lantern oxidation Discussion
Removing oxidation from a copper lantern starts with confirming the metal is really copper or brass, not plated steel, by testing it with a magnet, according to the reply from eBay or eBay or. The answer warns against using fine grit sandpaper because it can permanently damage the smooth surface and make later polishing much harder. For cleaning, the suggestion is to use a copper polish: Brasso is described as effective but very slow on heavy oxidation. If the green corrosion is severe, lemon juice and salt may be strong enough to remove it, but they can leave the metal a salmon pink color. A practical compromise is to use a stronger copper polish first, or use the lemon juice treatment and then follow with Brasso to bring back the warmer copper tone. The overall advice is to proceed carefully and choose the least aggressive method that will still remove the oxidation.
Q. Hi,
I found an old lantern in our garage that used to belong to my great grandfather. It is badly oxidized/corroded (green, looks almost like paint), I really want to restore this and keep it, but am not sure what to use to restore it (besides good old elbow grease). Would using fine grit sandpaper then using Brasso
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link] work and not hurt it?
Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Great forum here, wish I would’ve found this before!
Thanks for any ideas!
Patrick Noble
hobbyist and auto tech – Sequim, Washington
March 23, 2008
Hi, Patrick. First test it with a magnet to make certain it is solid copper or brass, and not plated steel. I would not use sandpaper as you will then never be able to get it smooth again without a lot of buffing. Then it’s a matter of picking a good copper polish. Brasso
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link] is excellent but slower than molasses on very heavy oxidation. Lemon juice plus salt is extremely aggressive and may be necessary, but will leave it salmon pink. I’d compromise and try a reasonably strong copper polish like
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link] , or go through the two steps of following the lemon juice with the brasso to restore the warmth. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Try 5% ammonium citrate solution(50 gm citric acid
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link] /1 lit water+add some ammonia
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] – pH must be 9!).Hope it helps and good luck!
Goran Budija
– Cerovski vrh Croatia
March 31, 2008