Achieving a long-term quality finish on brass?

Hello forum members,

What are your favorite methods of preparing (sanding, etc.) and finishing brass for a long-lasting bright finish without tarnishing and staining?

Thank you.

Paint it

Renaissance Wax

One of the main problems with steam engines is keeping the brass shiny. I have found that elbow grease is the best.

This **LINK**keeps brass shiny for a long time. Niko.

No, I'm not painting it! 😄

This is the kind of thing I'd like to finish. I'm not fully satisfied with the sanding. Maybe a bit more tooth?

I think I'll try the suggested wax.

Thank you!

There are thinks like Rustins metal lacquer that protect the metal, Myself I just leave the metal bear as I'm nit a fan of excess bling

**LINK**

I'm sure there are 🇺🇸 stockists.

Sand with fine emery paper and or scotch brite then polish with Solvol Autosol polish, somtimes use buffing wheel, then clean with a quick drying solvent cleaner and finnish with Renassance wax. if it is going to get hot in use just go to solvol Autosol.

David

For similar purposes I have used car paint lacquer [spray can] bought from Halfords, the last recent job was a quantity of brass domed nuts to be used in my daughter-in-laws kitchen - time will tell how they weather the steam/kitchen conditions etc ! Other past items have worked well.

The Renaissance wax works well but you do need to keep re-applying it and maybe a refinish now and then.

John

Plus one for Halfords clear lacquer.

Preparation(sanding)

Not done any brass since buying my surface grinder, but surface ground steel items most certainly resist tarnishing - far better than when machined on the mill. Any surface imperfections will be points where tarnishing will be initiated, but surface coatings should avoid that factor (and adhesion of those coatings may be superior on a ‘rougher. surface, compared to ultra-smooth metal finishes).

The metal lacquer works fine, so long as your brass is very clean and dry when you apply it.

The late William Smith's website still sells his Rub n Brite polish and protector.

I find it is very good for the initial polish while also giving a very long term protection.

**LINK**

Thank you all for your advice.

I went with Renaissance Wax. I first sanded the parts back to 400 grit, trying a little for a uniform grain direction, and I felt this gave a better finish in brass. The wax is easy to apply, and it seems to resist fingerprints to a degree. I'll be interested to see how well it holds up.

Here's an example after waxing. Thanks again.

See Clickspring's videos. After he achieves the desired finish, I believe he uses clear lacquer. As I remember, he thins it 1:1 with denatured alcohol.