Edwardian Brass letterbox

[zyderboy]

I want to clean/restore one of these having recently taken it from my front door. It is completely black. The surface is not pitted, but it has not responded to vinegar (a suggestion).Other ideas are Pepsi (it works on pennies!) and Lee and Perrins sauce.
Any recommendations conventional or otherwise to get restore the original shine?

 

[biffvernon]

Brasso

 

[peter-300]

Are you sure its brass - it could be iron. I use white vinegar with salt and fine wire wool if it is really tough and then use brasso once the main dirt is off. You will be at it all day with brasso if it has tarnished ot a black colour!

 

[thiambal]

You can get Brasso in the form of an imprenated cotton wool like pad which you tear a bit off and rub away. I find it works better on touch jobs than regular Brasso - comes in similar size and shap containers

 

[zyderboy]

thanks for the tips so far. Pretty sure its brass Pete as the colouring is still visible where the built in knocker has kept it clean.

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Try scrubbing with half a lemon dipped in salt - it shifts most muck off brass.
Failing that you might be into abrasive methods - I've found Scotchbrite pads (the proper 3M ones) are good for metal stripping, before using a mop and polishing compound with an electric drill to restore the finish.

 

[NT]

combining acid and salt is much more effective than acid alone. I expect electrolysis would work too.

NT

 

[zyderboy]

Right you are...here's your update. I combined the received wisdom from here and elsewhere. The reasult is that I don't think my fingers will be the same colour again. I know.. there are such thing as gloves.
scrubbed with vinigar,salt on wire wool. This stated to work (brasso didn't touch it),. Soaked it overnight in coca cola, creaing an interesting slurry the next day! This softened it before wire wooling again.
I estimate another overnight and a couple of hours more scrubbing and it should be ready for the Brasso!
Thanks again for the help.

 

[Paul Hopper]

Try Cillit B**ng!

but be preparted to wipe off quickly , dry, then clean with Hotspot or even Solvol Autosol.. finish off with brasso, whatever you do.

Crude

but beleive me, it does work!

Paul