porthole cleaning?

[grluecke]

Hi, all, in a couple of weeks, I get back up to Maine and my boat, but I want to think about cleaning the bronze on the porthole windows.

I'm not up to removing them or anything, but what's the best technique for getting the corrosion off the window and frames on the inside?

I'll deal with the outside (maybe) some other time.

I've tried to attach a picture that shows some port corrosion.

[grluecke]

Apparently, I don't know how to attach a photo...suggestions?

Not that it is essential, I imagine all of you have seen a CD with some corrosion on the ports...

[Oswego John]

I don't know, G R Luecke, how many pictures you sent in. I did see one interior shot of the cabin which came out loud and clear. Nice job.

O J

[grluecke]

Ok, I see it now, origonally, there was some message about "you don't have the right priviledges..."

Anyhow, cleaning suggestions? Any that just require THOUGHT as opposed to elbow grease??

[Dick Kobayashi]

I have found that except for wiping off corrosion with a rag dampened in something (I forget what) this is a complete waste of time.

[darmoose]

try liquid gold, can be bought in all the stores, cleans corrosion and leaves a very nice patina. also looks great on the teak wood in our cd"s

Darrell

[rtbates]

Brasso, bronze wool and lots and lots of elbow grease...

[Russell]

Vinegar is the best and easiest way to polish bronze. On peices you can remove just immerse them in a bucket of white vineger. Things you cant remove you can just use ketchup, brush it on and leave it until its a bit dried up then wipe it off.

[Klem]

Brasso, bronze wool and lots and lots of elbow grease...

I would add to that Never Dull (it might be spelled nevr dull or something like that). You might even start with something pretty abrasive like sandpaper.

If you go to the trouble of polishing them, you really should lacquer them or you will spend the rest of your life polishing.

[Duncan]

...Never Dull (it might be spelled nevr dull or something like that)

Nevr Dull (LINK), as you say.
I really like it on stainless, or chromed bronze. Takes some patience, but it always seems to work.
Dangerous stuff for perfectionists, because you can always get it "just a little bit shinier".
I never thought of trying it on the green bronze.

You might even start with something pretty abrasive like sandpaper

I completely agree - I suspect that Nevr Dull, or even bronze wool, might shred a bit on rough-cast pieces (like my ports). I think a (brass) wire brush might be best here, along with some ketchup, vinegar, baking soda, etc.
I have idly thought of trying the Dremel, since I think there may be a brass wire brush attachment for it.

If you go to the trouble of polishing them, you really should lacquer them or you will spend the rest of your life polishing.

I have the impression (not from lacquering myself, though) that moisture can get under the laquer and make things uglier and harder to restore. Sort of like varnish, you have to seal the piece, and then keep maintaining the seal.


The sensible alternative, I think, is to do the bronze every twenty years, i.e whenever you feel like it. Its' shiny for a month, it's smooth and brown for six months, and then Mother Nature takes over.

[Sea Hunt Video]

Today I removed the two original Lewmar 7 bronze Genoa winches from S/V Bali Ha'i. This is in preparation for my installation of two Lewmar self-tailing winches.

I did not yet remove the two bronze winch stands. However, I would like to clean them and get them back close to their initial color. Right now, they have a classic bronze patina (sort of a dull darkish green). If possible, I would like to do this cleaning without removing the stands. Removing the two winches without loosing any parts to King Neptune was traumatic enough.

Any suggestions on returning the bronze winch stands close to their original bronze color I have access to both vinegar and ketchup if those are the two best recommendations. Given what I spent on the new winches, I am probably willing to spend a few "boat units" to buy a cleaning/polishing product that does a quality job.

Last year at Strictly Sail Miami I purchased a small container of Prism Polish.

http://www.prismpolish.com/prismpolish.html

I have honestly not even opened the container. The website suggest this works on bronze (and ALL other metals). Has anyone used this stuff

I welcome any and all thoughts, suggestions, recommendations.

I am hoping to clean the bronze winch stands tomorrow morning and install the new winches tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks in advance.

[paul marko]

The way we cleaned bronze, copper, sliver ,and pewter in Morrocco. was to slice a lemon dip it in salt and rub the lemon on the article to be polished, then clean and polish with a piece of cotton or wool cloth.

If you have an excess of lemons and salt the sysem works great.

just my two cents worth

Paul Marko/Ixcatl

[ariasis]

I did all the bronze on my ty this summer. I used these. http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-511E-Coars ... 25&sr=8-52. Along with all kinds of cleaners. Then used permalac on everthong you can see what it looks like in my blog.. link below.

[Sea Hunt Video]

I did all the bronze on my ty this summer. I used these. http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-511E-Coars ... 25&sr=8-52. Along with all kinds of cleaners. Then used permalac on everthong you can see what it looks like in my blog.. link below.

Chris:

That is very impressive. The picture I saw of the winch and stand (with a duck in the water ) is what I would like my winch stands to look like so that they initially match the new winches. Then, they can "grow old" together.

I have a Dremel. I will look for the attachments at a local hardware store.

Thanks

[Neil Gordon]

Polishing bronze is a project best suited for the next owner.