Hello,
I have been experimenting with soldered Brass projects for some time now, & have a general question.
Is there a way to clean down Brass that has been heat colored without intricately polishing it or physically touching that area?
I have assembled a few Micron Art HO & Z gauge projects, but my soldering techniques lend to some discoloration of the brass.
These are complex parts that cannot be hand polished, such as HO spoked wheels, window frames, & Z gauge boxed bridge girders. (things you cannot get into inside & out).
Other than Media blasting or an attempt of hand polishing, are there other means of returning the brass to a natural tone?
I do not really want a flat finish like would result with media blasting or severe acid baths, (but would consider a bath type solution)…
What do you professional Brass Artists do to have that uniform color tone?
I am very interested in finding a solution & trying it out.
If the part is discolored from heat, it’s likely that discoloration goes deep into the part and not just on the surface. If by chance it is just surface discoloration, the only way to return the brass to its original color would be to physically remove the discolored metal. I’m afraid there’s no magical chemical that can accomplish that, it has to be mechanically removed.
Manufacturers of brass engines have the same problem. Their solution ? … spray the whole thing with a nice shiny brass colored paint ! Some of the brass engines I’ve stripped look pretty rough with that pretty brass paint gone - discolored brass and lots of solder !
Try a bath of denatured alcohol. It’ll take the rosin flux off, presuming that may be a large part of the discoloration. That’s what I found when building my PSC Alco DL535E. Went from this:
To This:
If it’s simply from the heat’s effect on brass itself, then paint is the way to go, especially if it’s delicate. I have a MA baggage cart I need to build, too, so may find out more about the issue you’re having.
