Brass plating restoration

[MikeEll]

Hi guys, I have a nice little carriage clock that looks like some of the plating has been polished away.  Is this brass plating?  Is there a way to restore it?

Edited February 15, 2024 by MikeEll

[transporter]

If its solid brass then it will polish, what that looks like is the lacquer that has worn away, So you need to strip the case drop in the tank with an ammonia based cleaner to strip the rest of the lacquer away then polish with brasso and clean again then spray lacquer the case again to keep the shine. 

[MikeEll]

On closer inspection it was solid brass.  I polished an area from the base that wasn't visible just to check.  The finished clock turned out really nice.

[RichardHarris123]

Photos please.

[oldhippy]

Did you lacquer the whole case? If not it will tarnish quite quick.   

[MikeEll]

4 hours ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Photos please.

I actually posted this under a separate thread.  See here - 

 

3 hours ago, oldhippy said:

Did you lacquer the whole case? If not it will tarnish quite quick.   

I haven't done that yet, but good point.

 

I'm really pleased with the accuracy.  It arrived to me broken and it now keeps perfect time over the course of a week or so.

Edited March 18, 2024 by MikeEll

[RichardHarris123]

Looks great but it does need lacquer. 

[Dell]

20 hours ago, MikeEll said:

I actually posted this under a separate thread.  See here - 

 

I haven't done that yet, but good point.

 

I'm really pleased with the accuracy.  It arrived to me broken and it now keeps perfect time over the course of a week or so.

I use Mohawk lacquer for brass for all the brass on the torsion clocks I restore

Dell

Edited March 19, 2024 by Dell

[MikeEll]

thanks Dell, I'll add some to my next order.  Where do you buy yours from?

Edited March 19, 2024 by MikeEll

[Dell]

40 minutes ago, MikeEll said:

thanks Dell, I'll add some to my next order.  Where do you buy yours from?

Master finishes.

I forgot to say don’t put it on like normal lacquer, just a dust coat then straight over again with a slightly wetter one but not wet , it looks horrible when first applied but it flows out lovely, try on a bit of polished scrap brass first.

[oldhippy]

I always preferred to paint the lacquer on, spraying can leave minute bubbles I admit you can hardly see them but you know they are there. Horolacq clear is the one I had and painted on with a paint artist flat brush. I drys very quick. 

[Dell]

4 hours ago, oldhippy said:

I always preferred to paint the lacquer on, spraying can leave minute bubbles I admit you can hardly see them but you know they are there. Horolacq clear is the one I had and painted on with a paint artist flat brush. I drys very quick. 

I found that with most lacquers but not the one I use now, I know some people dip them but I never found that very successful, always ended up with a hard blob .

Dell

[MikeEll]

Must admit I'd prefer to spray if I can.  For clock movements probably not so much a big deal, but to paint exposed case parts I'd expect a better finish from spray perhaps.

Toolstation sell one at a reasonable price.  I might give this one a try. https://www.toolstation.com/industrial-clear-lacquer-spray-paint-500ml