Brass polishing question

[roundgunner]

I have the summary fire alarm bell from the bridge of USS Kinkaid DD-965. I stood BMOW and QMOW and polished the brass so many times I just couldn't let it go to the bottom with SINKEX.

I have not done a display yet but I'm going to now. I plan on mounting it on a plaque with a 8x10 of the ship below it.

Question is if I polish it nice can it be clear coated with something so it won't tarnish again? I have another bell like the one used on the Quarterdeck for announcing the CO coming and going that I will do too. I'm fixing up a memorabilia room at the house.

 

[shouldazagged]

I don't have your answer, but that will be a splendid display.

My late brother, a disabled Navy vet, had a ship's bell suspended on a post in his back yard. After the horror of 9/11/01 he went out and tolled it.

 

[Dave]

You could use brass laquer, but I'd recommend you just wax it with renaissance wax (same stuff I use on my guns). We have turkish copperware that I polished then waxed with ren wax about 2 years ago, and so far, it still looks bright and freshly polished.

 

[Frank46]

I have a small collection of artillary shell casings. After taking out any dents that I can I usually sand them with various grits of silicon carbide paper and then polish them up on my home made buffing wheel setup. The only item I have from my ship is a 5"54 shell casing that was made into an ash tray. You could use Flitz, Simichrome, or Mother's mag wheel polish to start and when done coat with a clear laquer which does come in spray cans. When I had my boat there was a wax product that did protect the polished brass. Maybe check with a local marine supply house?. Frank

 

[Dennis]

As a former musical instrument repair tech I can tell you to use Brasso. Then degrease thoroughly. Then use a good quality clear lacquer. If it's kept inside, then you're golden.

 

[rct269]

I was going to go with clear lacquer, but someone smarter than I am suggested Renaissance wax---and I had this picture in my mind----removing wax or lacquer to touch up a boo-boo----or just something I wanted to look better---or different----or just for something to do.

The wax won----every time---no question about it!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[STCM(SW)]

Hey, do as every Navy DD did.
Have the cook polish it up with tomato katchup! ��

 

[30-30remchester]

If this is a second post forgive my computer ignorance as I think I lost my first reply. Anywho

OMG why in the world would you want to shine up brass. Brass when new in shiny with zero, nada, no character. It is no more appealing than a front bumper of a taxi. With good luck it will age gracefully and acquire a nice patina and character. I had always wondered as to why us Americans feel the need to "improve" thing. I admire well worn object and can only wonder about their use. Shined up they loose all appeal. I know of what I speak. I ruined hundreds, literally, antique knives and tools by making them shiny. On my fireplace mantle is a brass air horn that came from a long defunct Colorado gold mine. It was used by countless miners to signal the hoistman to engage the lift. When I got it, it was well worn and was dark brown. It had a beautiful fingerprint of a miner left on it. Being the pimp that I was, I spiffed it up. You can brush your teeth in it now. The fingerprint of an old miner is FOREVER gone and I have a whistle that just sits there with no story to tell. Yours bell MAY be the exception since polishing it was a job requirement.