Best Way To Clean Up Cast Brass

[Jim Evans]

What is the best way to clean and shine cast brass? A mill file seem to let a lot of scratches. Jewelry files are small and take a while.What works for you?

 

[FlinterNick]

What is the best way to clean and shine cast brass? A mill file seem to let a lot of scratches. Jewelry files are small and take a while.What works for you?

I use wet dry paper grits 3000 - 7000, works like a charm.

 

[Kansas Kid]

If you’re just cleaning and shining then steel wool and a product like flitz or semichrome. I prefer to let it age naturally.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

Neve-Dull polishing wadding.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Vaino]

What is the best way to clean and shine cast brass? A mill file seem to let a lot of scratches. Jewelry files are small and take a while.What works for you?

What is the best way to clean and shine cast brass? A mill file seem to let a lot of scratches. Jewelry files are small and take a while.What works for you?

 

[Vaino]

For sand cast Bplates I start w/ a rasp and then a mill file...w/ investment cast Bplates, I skip the rasp an go w/a mill file. After the mill file, 220 grit paper is used, then 00 steel wool, 320 grit paper and a final smoothing rub w/ 0000 steel wool. I like a slightly aged look so use 44/40 cold blue and then use the 0000 steel wool to rub it back for an aged look......Fred

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
I start with medium cut files to shape and clean up flashing. Then I use fine files lubricated with parafin oil. On curved surfaces, I usually resort to 220-800 grit sand paper dipped in water, however, if flat, I prefer polishing stones dipped in parafin oil. I scrape the brass around details using an old skew chisel. From there, it depends on my objectives. On muskets and military guns, I go right to burnishing the brass with a steel burnisher dipped in parafin oil and then even the burnishing with 4"0" steel wool. If I want a higher more perfect polish, I use 3-M bristle burrs mounted on a Dremel tool to polish without rounding over sharp details and corners. I never use a buffing wheel, ever. They round corners, dish out screw holes and provide a polish that is hard, glassy, and not authentic looking.

dave

 

[Pete G]

I start with a scraper. After that, files, sanding and 0000 steel wool.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I used to finish my cast brass with strips of emery cloth with the castings held in a soft jawed vice. Started with 100 grit , then 220, 320 , 400, and finished with scotch brite. I spent many hours doing this while "watching "automatic screw machines run. I usually could get one piece a night finished. Such was life on the night shift!

 

[eggwelder]

Does paraffin oil keep the files from clogging?

 

[Zonie]

My experience says using oil on a file usually causes the teeth to clog up faster. The best thing to use to keep the teeth clean is to apply a very light coating of dry chalk dust on them.

 

[eggwelder]

Yes, I use chalk as well. Dave mentioned that he uses paraffin oil on fine files, and I was wondering why.

 

[sawyer04]

Dry chalk here also. Slow even stroke with little pressure and a good file card.