How do you keep brass chassis shiny?

[petergrey]

Hi all,

I have to ask this question. I see photos here of beautiful, jewellery-like chassis which literally gleam. How do you maintain that gleam?

Within a day of buffing my chassis to a bright shine, they inevitably become dull and almost tarnished. Is there a product or method that can be used to maintain the shine? Or is it a daily dose of Brasso and elbow grease?

Cheers, Peter

[munter]

I would suggest a clear coat.
I personally dont bother as I build with brass rod, tube, plate and music wire requiring acid flux....so I have been spraying a coat of etch primer on...I could do a gloss coat but I have usually had enough by then.

[petergrey]

Thanks John,

I have seen a clear etch primer advertised. This seems worth a try. Likewise I'm using acid flux.

I just see the photos, particularly from Chris Walker, and just marvel at (among everything else) the brilliant, burnished brass.

After I receive the clear etch primer I will post the results.

[chrisguyw]

Jan 10, 2022 18:25:50 GMT -5 petergrey said:

I just see the photos, particularly from Chris Walker, and just marvel at (among everything else) the brilliant, burnished brass.

Chris Walker takes his chassis pictures immediately after they have been polished .

"Simichrome" polish does tend to keep the shine for longer than anything else I have tried, but, after time, the brass will oxidize.

While a clearcoat will maintain the shine, I do not use it, as if I need to alter or repair the chassis at any stage, the clearcoat must be removed before any further soldering......too much of a pain for me !!

Cheers
Chris Walker

[petergrey]

Late reply.....

Thanks for the clarification Chris. It makes me feel better about my efforts.
I take your point about needing to remove any clear coat if you need to do further soldering and, yes, painful. But, living near the ocean as I do, brass tarnishes quite quickly and piano wire rusts very quickly (overnight). So I need to give my chassis some protection (mainly against the rust).

I have used a clear etch primer on one of my recent builds. It seems to alleviate the rust issue. On the brass it kind of dulls the shine a little but then remains stable. I guess a coat of clear might bring the shine back but I'm happy enough with stopping the rust.

I'll just take photos when polished and before etch primed.