<DIV>Hi Greg -</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I believe the long-ago post regarding cleaning brass with a chromic acid solution may have been mine.  Paul has it right in his post.  I have been using it for years, and it really works great.  Inexpensive, too.  It was so long ago I bought the chromic acid I will have to check for who the supplier was.  The same gallon tub of the solution has served me for app. 10 years.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>First you must remove the finish from the brass, either with stripper or soaking in lacquer thinner or acetone.  Then 10-20 seconds in the chromic acid and the brass is incredibly brite and clean.  Longer than 30 seconds and the brass will be smaller - DAMHIK!!!  I do a double rinse to ensure there is no remaining acid that may continue to act on the brass, the second rinse being a mild TSP bath.  A very short buff is all that is required.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Obviously, chromic acid is like any other strong chemical - take <U>all </U>health precautions.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Mark Potter    <BR><BR><B><I>Greg Newell <gnewell@ameritech.net></I></B> wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Paul,<BR>I attempted the search and came up with nothing. Would you mind <BR>scanning it for us? Or perhaps finding the original post? This could be <BR>very timely for me! Thanks in advance!!!<BR>Greg Newell<BR><BR><BR><BR>At 04:35 PM 4/20/2005, you wrote:<BR>>If you search the archives, you can find a post that has a recipe for brass<BR>>cleaning solution. I can't recall the author just now, but I have it<BR>>printed out at work. The subject of the post is something like this:<BR>>fabulous brass tarnish remover. It consists of warm water, chromic acid<BR>>and an alkaline buffer (can't remember exactly). Brain fag... Anyway, 10<BR>>seconds in this soup, and your corrosion is history. And, you won't burn<BR>>your hands in the stuff (wear gloves anyway! It will stain anything a<BR>>yellow color). If you leave things in it long enough, they'll disappear.<BR>>You won't know how you did without it.<BR>> Paul McCloud<BR>> San Diego<BR>><BR>><BR>> > [Original Message]<BR>> > From: Bob Johnson <BODE@SPTC.NET><BR>> > To: <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG><BR>> > Date: 04/20/2005 12:59:02 PM<BR>> > Subject: cleaning brass<BR>> ><BR>> > Several months ago there was an article in the journal concerning<BR>> > cleaning brass. A container to put the brass into and the liquid to use<BR>> > for cleaning the brass. I need either the date of the journal or the<BR>> > liquid that was suggested in the article.<BR>> ><BR>> > Thanks,<BR>> ><BR>> > Bob Johnson<BR>> ><BR>> > _______________________________________________<BR>> > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>_______________________________________________<BR>>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives<BR><BR>Greg Newell<BR>Greg's piano Forté<BR>mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net <BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives<BR></BLOCKQUOTE>