Confessions of a brass polishing addict
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Are you a clean freak? Do you like copper items that are shiny…..I mean really really shiny? Did you ever wonder how do they get the copper finish to really pop and catch your attention at auctions ? Is your collection of copper wares that you display in your kitchen dull, greasy and in need of some spiffing up? Well this post for cleaning and preserving copper may be for you. I went out and purchased at a local tag sale a few weeks ago the worse condition piece of copper that I could find. Apparently keeping copper in good condition is not only hard but something that is quite a chore. As I had no problem viewing a large selection of pitiful specimens in just a few stops. I settled on this Manning Bowman tea kettle made in Meriden,Connecticut. I am using Wenol Metal Polish and a trick or two to put a little life back into this pot and extend the life of the polishing effort.
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Materials Used:
Instructions and Application : 1 Squeeze a small amount of Wenol Metal Polish from the tube and apply it in 10 or so dabs about the size of your small finger on to the tea pot. Spread polish evenly with the finger tips of your nitrile glove. A small amount of polish goes a long, long way. 2. Let the polish stand for about 3 to 4 minutes and then polish with the finger tips of your gloved hand. Use a soft horse hair detail brush to work the polish into and out of the tight areas where handle meets the pot. This saves taking the handle off the tea pot which is another possible option. 3. If you want the look of an antique, you may have polished far enough at this point. However if you want your copper to be bright and really shiny, further polishing will be required. If the tarnish is still lingering or if there are stubborn spots and streaks of tarnish shadow on the copper surface, you might try this old trick. Apply more polish as in step 1, then take a small amount of 0000 steel wool and apply a quarter size dab of polish directly on it. Now start to polish the tea pot with very light pressure. The polish on the steel wool will act as a lubricant and make the polish glide along and clean & polish with out scratching the surface. Wipe the copper surface again with a clean soft paper towel or soft cloth. 4. Re-apply following step 1, just using polish and a cloth, but not the steel wool one last time. Buff to the desired sheen with a micro fiber cloth. Time elapsed to polish the tea pot was about 20 minutes. 5. If your copper is for cooking , serving food or beverage wash thoroughly with warm water and a little soap & rinse before using. If your copper is just for display, try this polishing trick. As a last step use Wenol Ultra Soft Polish, which the old timers called “Wenol Blue.” Just apply a few dabs right on to the copper surface and polish in with a soft cloth or a clean part of a microfiber cloth. It will keep the shine for months and it repels dust. For upkeep after that, just re-wipe once in a while with a cloth and your copper will look bright again. At some point of course you will need to re-polish, but using some Wenol Blue is well worth the extra time you will get between polishing periods. Cars guys often use Wenol Blue on their chrome wheels to give them that “show” finish after polishing with regular Wenol, which they call “Wenol Red.” 1/2 way through the polishing process & after using Wenol Red & Blue: |
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| Polish Guy Tip : “Wearing nitrile gloves not only keeps your hands clean, but also spreads the polish on thinly & economically. Plus it just makes good sense to keep chemicals away from your skin. “ |
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Using Wenol metal polish to clean German stainless steel surgical bandage scissors
In this polishing tip an old pair of bandage scissors made of German stainless steel will be cleaned and restored using Wenol Metal Polish. You often see this type of medical instrument used by health care professionals or even in first aid kits.
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Materials Used:
Instructions and Application :
1 Take the scissors apart for easier cleaning. Then squeeze a small amount of Wenol Metal Polish from the tube and apply a few dabs onto the scissors. Spread polish evenly with the finger tips of your nitrile gloved hand until the tool is coated completely on all surfaces. You may even want to use 0000 steel wool to help lift the stubborn stains off of the surface using the polish as a lubricant.
2. Remove all polish with a microfiber cloth or soft paper towel. Re-apply a bit more Wenol and let the polish stand for a minute or so.
3. Next wipe off the polish residue before it dries with a soft paper towel. Buff to the desired sheen with a soft micro fiber cloth for best results. Time elapsed to shine this set of scissors was about 10 minutes.
Where can I buy Wenol Polish you ask ? Click right here to order Wenol and receive it quickly from a reliable supplier.
Before and After:
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| Polish Guy Tip : “ Wash & rinse the scissors well and clean with an alcohol wipe, sanitizer gel or sterilize in some manner before using.” |
Using Wenol polish to clean a stainless steel & aluminum coffee pot funnel
I picked this item for a polish demo because it is made with a combination of a stainless steel bowl and an aluminum spout. These were used on the old restaurant commercial vacuum coffee makers that I saw all over New England in diners years ago. Using Wenol Metal Polish I was able to remove stains and years of tarnish from it..
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Materials Used:
Instructions and Application :
1 Squeeze a small amount of Wenol Metal Polish from the tube onto the funnel surface. Spread polish evenly with the finger tips of your nitrile gloved hand until the funnel is coated completely with a light even coat of polish
2. Let the polish stand for about a minute or so.
3. Wipe off the polish residue before it dries with a soft cloth. I prefer using a microfiber cloth as it picks up the polish residue easily and polishes the surface quickly with out any danger of scratching. Re-apply following steps 1 & 2 if needed. Time elapsed to shine this item was about 5 or 6 minutes.
Where can I buy Wenol Polish you ask ? Click right here to order Wenol and receive it quickly from our recommended reliable supplier.
Before and After:
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| Polish Guy Tip : ” Let the Wenol polish do the work for you! Just let the polish sit longer on the metal, no need to scrub harder.” |
Removing Rust & Tarnish from a Bemis & Call OS Caliper with Wenol Polish
A request that often is e-mailed in is something like how do I remove rust from a old steel tool? In this polishing tip an old machinist tool that is an outside caliper made by Bemis & Call Co will be cleaned & restored using Wenol Metal Polish.
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Materials Used:
Instructions and Application :
1 Squeeze a small amount of Wenol Metal Polish from the tube and apply a few dabs on to the caliper. Spread polish evenly with the finger tips of your nitrile gloved hand until the tool is coated completely on both sides. Using a Horse Hair Detail Brush helps to get the polish into and around the tight hinge at the of the top of the tool as well as the machined openings that allows movement for adjustments .
2. Let the polish stand for about 5 to 6 minutes and then gently polish with 0000 steel wool.
3. Wipe off the polish residue before it dries with a paper towel. Re-apply following steps 1 & 2 if needed. Buff to the desired sheen with a soft micro fiber cloth for best results. Any soft cloth will do but microfiber cloths do in fact give the best final results. Plus if you have some around you will find that just a quick wipe brings the shine right back. Time elapsed to shine this machinist tool was about 20 minutes.
Where can I buy Wenol Polish you ask ? Click right here to order Wenol and receive it quickly from a reliable supplier.
Before and After:
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| Polish Guy Tip : ” Most people use too much polish, a little polish goes a long way. Let the Wenol polish do the work for you! Just let the Wenol sit longer on the metal, no need to scrub harder.” |





























