EBay, Collectors, Flea Market & Antiques

Paper Roses

(7,517 posts) Sat Jul 9, 2022, 02:47 PM Jul 2022

I can't keep out of trouble. Asking advice again:

A neighbor had a yard sale today and of course I went. Bought a wonderful Circa 1850 brass bail handle pot. OK, it was filled with pine cones and they went into the trash but:

After dumping the cones, I saw...(wonderful)...that the bottom 2 inches were incredibly tarnished. Actually, I think she might have had a plant in the pot. Anyway, I spent the day trying to clean the tarnish off. It is more than tarnish inside, it is some kind of residue. The outside looks fine(I use "Brass Boy brass polish), the inside needs help.

I googled how to remove this crud in as many ways as I could. So many rec's to use baking soda and vinegar(maybe salt too). I tried the polish today, used 000 steel wool then wet & dry sandpaper. It still looks awful.
Tomorrow is another day. Any suggestions before I start this job again? I want to hang this on a crane in my fireplace but not like it looks now.

As always, help is appreciated.

6 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I can't keep out of trouble. Asking advice again: (Original Post) Paper Roses Jul 2022 OP

Here are some ideas... flor-de-jasmim Jul 2022 #1

Silver tarnishes,too.:) True Blue American Jul 2022 #3

When tomato sauce has dripped on to the bottom or the edges... 3catwoman3 Jul 2022 #5

Not sure but True Blue American Jul 2022 #2

An "Ultrasonic cleaner" machine is the route to go KS Toronado Jul 2022 #4

Paint thinner, finger nail polish remover. Phoenix61 Jul 2022 #6

flor-de-jasmim

(2,162 posts)

1. Here are some ideas...

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Sat Jul 9, 2022, 03:15 PM

Jul 2022

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-brass

The last suggestion (tomato) is the most interesting. Good luck.

True Blue American

(18,208 posts)

3. Silver tarnishes,too.:)

Reply to flor-de-jasmim (Reply #1)

Sat Jul 9, 2022, 03:29 PM

Jul 2022

3catwoman3

(25,664 posts)

5. When tomato sauce has dripped on to the bottom or the edges...

Reply to flor-de-jasmim (Reply #1)

Sat Jul 9, 2022, 05:28 PM

Jul 2022

...of my decades old Revere Ware copper bottom pans, the areas of contact "de-tarnish" immediately.

True Blue American

(18,208 posts)

2. Not sure but

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Sat Jul 9, 2022, 03:28 PM

Jul 2022

I gave my Son an old copper soup pot of solid copper that had been used in a Restaurant by an ancestor. He used a sander to bring it back. Solid copper. It had a round bottom, used on a coal stove. Shines now. I have several copper pieces, wash bin. I used lemon juice on that.

Not sure about Brass

KS Toronado

(19,703 posts)

4. An "Ultrasonic cleaner" machine is the route to go

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Sat Jul 9, 2022, 04:40 PM

Jul 2022

when everything else fails. Hospitals use them and so do some automotive repair shops
for rebuilding carburetors. Or put the pine cones or something else in it and cover it up.

Phoenix61

(17,723 posts)

6. Paint thinner, finger nail polish remover.

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Sat Jul 9, 2022, 05:29 PM

Jul 2022

My guess is something was glued to the bottom to hold a flower arrangement possibly.

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