Chrome/brass faucet cleaning

[O2 Mash]

I just scored four older Perlick chromed brass faucets at an antique store last week complete with SS shanks and fittings for 10 bucks......perfect for my future bar. They were sitting outside and needed some serious cleaning. Everything is in great shape, but I noticed that the inside of the faucets, shanks and fittings are pretty tarnished (I think the SS shanks have a brass tube insert going through the middle which the beer flows through).

Does anyone have recommendations on how to clean the brass?

[Salpta]

Soaking in a good acidic solution aka: Onestep (ph. acid), tomato juice, etc? Removes tarnish/residues from my baking pots well enough. :D

[Amadeaus]

Metalsmiths use a "pickling" solution to clean most non-ferous metals. This can be obtained through a variety of jewlery suppliers, such as Rio Grande. (they should have a website) The powder is mixed with a ratio of water, and heated to remove deposits. (crockpots work well for this) This will not produce "shinny" metal, but it will clean all the gunk off. The metalware will then need to be cleaned with soap and water.

There is also a product called "Brasso" that is used like a polish, and does shine metal, and clean oxidation stains. It requires a little elbow grease, and also needs to be cleaned off with soap and water.

Straight A and One Step will clean off organic deposits, but will not clean stains or oxidation.

Hope this helps.

Amadeaus

[toneyc]

Pickling compound is just a mild acid. The one we use in Jewelry class here is sodium bisulphate, a commonly available pool chemical.

:)
Toney.