Polishing brass swarf

[Monty]

I have been collecting brass swarf from the key cutter at work. It works OK for small fills, but when I use it for large voids, it looks dirty, nothing like brass at all. Does anyone know of a solution that will polish this brass swarf? All the water thin polishing solutions I've found say not to use on brass and the brass polishes are more of a paste than a liquid.

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Have you tried buffing?

Ed

 

[designer]

Naval brass polish and an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner.

 

[dogcatcher]

Not a keys are made from brass, they make them out of various alloys. The "stuff" I got from a locksmith was useless. It was ugly, almost a grey. I went back to making my own brass swarf on my metal lathe.

 

[kingkeyman]

I'm no metallurgist, but I am a locksmith. Most quality key blanks have a high nickel content, and most hardware store keys are nickel plated. Most locksmiths do buy cheaper solid brass non plated key blanks in large quantities, but we cut them on the same machines as the other materials thus making the different shavings nearly impossible to sort. I doubt that any amount of cleaning or polishing will ever get the desired color or sparkle you are looking for.

 

[PTsideshow]

You could try, Lemishine a liquid type polish. Some reloaders use it in the wet tumbling cleaning of the shell casings. Or buy a bag of citric acid and make up a solution and try that as it is also used by some. The citric acid powder is used in brewing, baking and as a supplement.

Lemishine is sold @ Wally World,and other stores.

The swimming pool additive that is used to raise the pH of the water(sodium bisulfate) Is used by metalworkers and jewelers to clean (pickle) copper and brass along with silver before soldering.

It works better if heated, NOT BOILING!
As been said in another post the blanks are made from brass alloys or nickle. The pickle will brighten both, but be aware don't use any steel bowls,can or utensils in the Pickling Solution as the ferrous material will change the solution into a flash plating solution and give the brass a rosy look!
Used a glass jar and then pour the mess into a strainer then rinse.
:clown:

 

[Sylvanite]

Ammonia. I doubt household is concentrated enough to be effective though. Most brass polishing solutions are ammonia based - and strong enough to irritate your nose. You might be able to find high concentration ammonia at a gun shop in the form of copper solvent (not regular bore cleaning solution, but one specifically to remove copper fouling).

I hope that helps,
Eric

 

[Wood Butcher]

Would Tarnex work for this?
WB

 

[Monty]

Thanks for the responses and suggestions. I'll look for the suggested items and try them.

 

[jttheclockman]

Will not get to a high polish. As stated by someone here the content is not true brass.