Does anyone know if there is a way to brighten up the bronze portholes on my cd and if it really is worthwhile doing the work..Will it tarnish to quickly to enjoy??
I have also noticed a small screw that sits on the body of my seacocks about 3/16 dia..are they intended to act a "grease fitings"
??is it absoulely to disassemble the seacocks to maintain them?
Mibrinn@aol.com
Bronze
Moderator: Jim Walsh
-
Neil Gordon
Re: Bronze
>>Does anyone know if there is a way to brighten up the bronze portholes on my cd and if it really is worthwhile doing the work..<<
It's possible but it won't last. When I was in the Navy, we used to polish brass *every* morning! Enjoy the classic patina and go sailing.
>>is it absoulely to disassemble the seacocks to maintain them?<<
They should be disassembled, cleaned, greased, etc. A frozen seacock combined with a broken hose can ruin your summer. The little screw lets you spray tons of WD-40 into the seacock if you don't take the time to properly maintain them.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
neil@nrgordon.com
It's possible but it won't last. When I was in the Navy, we used to polish brass *every* morning! Enjoy the classic patina and go sailing.
>>is it absoulely to disassemble the seacocks to maintain them?<<
They should be disassembled, cleaned, greased, etc. A frozen seacock combined with a broken hose can ruin your summer. The little screw lets you spray tons of WD-40 into the seacock if you don't take the time to properly maintain them.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
neil@nrgordon.com
-
Larry DeMers
Re: Bronze
Marv,
I tried to brighten the bronze ports on our DeLaMer, and have spent hmmm, 6 years regretting it now. Here's the story; We used all sorts of cleaners from "Bar Keep's Friend" to chemicals to Brasso. We even tried a 'scientific' way, by using a caustic soda that would chemically react with and neutralize the oxidation..trouble was neutralizing the caustic soda! Nothing would last more than a few days in clean northen Wisconsin air..some lasted a few minutes, literally. We sat and actually watched the port we spent hours on go from beautifully bright to dull to green in less than 2 hours.
In the end, we allowed them to go back to their natural patina, which is just fine. My regret is that those chemicals we used did leave behind salts and debris that we are still cleaning out of the dogs and hinges every now and then. My advice is leave them and enjoy sailing more.
Page 2.
Those little screws with the square head in the seacocks are for draining the water out of the seacock body when winterizing it. Lubrication for the seacock is provided by coating the valve and body interior with a waterproof grease, such as waterpump grease, or the seacock grease offered by Spartan Marine (and carrried by West Marine in their catalog). This we usually do once a year, and it takes maybe 15 minutes to complete all total (for each seacock). Disassembly of the seacock is simple. There are directions available in the Cape Dory manual for the boat, or I could send you a scanned copy of those directions if you need them. Disassembly is necessary in order to maintain them. This is not an area to neglect, as your life depends on them working for you.
Cheers!
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30
demers@sgi.com
I tried to brighten the bronze ports on our DeLaMer, and have spent hmmm, 6 years regretting it now. Here's the story; We used all sorts of cleaners from "Bar Keep's Friend" to chemicals to Brasso. We even tried a 'scientific' way, by using a caustic soda that would chemically react with and neutralize the oxidation..trouble was neutralizing the caustic soda! Nothing would last more than a few days in clean northen Wisconsin air..some lasted a few minutes, literally. We sat and actually watched the port we spent hours on go from beautifully bright to dull to green in less than 2 hours.
In the end, we allowed them to go back to their natural patina, which is just fine. My regret is that those chemicals we used did leave behind salts and debris that we are still cleaning out of the dogs and hinges every now and then. My advice is leave them and enjoy sailing more.
Page 2.
Those little screws with the square head in the seacocks are for draining the water out of the seacock body when winterizing it. Lubrication for the seacock is provided by coating the valve and body interior with a waterproof grease, such as waterpump grease, or the seacock grease offered by Spartan Marine (and carrried by West Marine in their catalog). This we usually do once a year, and it takes maybe 15 minutes to complete all total (for each seacock). Disassembly of the seacock is simple. There are directions available in the Cape Dory manual for the boat, or I could send you a scanned copy of those directions if you need them. Disassembly is necessary in order to maintain them. This is not an area to neglect, as your life depends on them working for you.
Cheers!
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30
Marv Brinn wrote: Does anyone know if there is a way to brighten up the bronze portholes on my cd and if it really is worthwhile doing the work..Will it tarnish to quickly to enjoy??
I have also noticed a small screw that sits on the body of my seacocks about 3/16 dia..are they intended to act a "grease fitings"
??is it absoulely to disassemble the seacocks to maintain them?
demers@sgi.com
-
john vigor
Re: Bronze
Marvin: Nothing keeps bronze shining for long in a saltwater environment, but if you're really determined to make your life a misery you can use a British Navy trick for getting the rough stuff off. Cut a lemon in half, dip it in a saucer of salt, and rub it on the bronze. You can also use Worcestershire sauce, which gives surprisingly good results on brass. (Imagine what it does to your stomach.) You'd have to follow up with Brasso or Nevr Dull, but these methods will remove most of the oxidation that builds up over the years. Like the others, though, I advise you to leave well enough alone.
jvig@whidbey.net
jvig@whidbey.net
-
Dave Olson
Re: Bronze
I have used a spray product called Allshield. It is reported to be something similar to lacquer. I am beginning the second year and the bronze still looks great!
Dave
Olsonacre@compuserve.com
Dave
Marv Brinn wrote: Does anyone know if there is a way to brighten up the bronze portholes on my cd and if it really is worthwhile doing the work..Will it tarnish to quickly to enjoy??
I have also noticed a small screw that sits on the body of my seacocks about 3/16 dia..are they intended to act a "grease fitings"
??is it absoulely to disassemble the seacocks to maintain them?
Olsonacre@compuserve.com