Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Ruined my brass cabinet handles with vinegar

Current question & answers:

Q. I have an antique Chinese wedding cabinet with a traditional brass faceplate. I wanted to get rid of the musty smell inside, so sprayed it with a solution of vinegar on the metals. The green on the plates is indeed cupric oxide which is the oxide equivalent to bronze/brass as rust on steel. The white 'crust' is damaged clear varnish found on the handles while it appears the plates were raw metal/ You will need to remove the clear varnish off the handles with varnish remover and buff with 00 steel wool [on eBay or Amazon] then re-spray with new clear varnish. As to the plates, burnish (buff) with the steel wool till all green is gone then spray with clear varnish to protect. You can call with questions

Barry Feinman
BarrysRestoreItAll

Carlsbad, California