How to Restore a Boat's Brass Fittings
Clean and Polish Brass so it Looks Like New
Brass lanterns, cleats, dorades and winches add to the beauty of any boat, but over time, the factory applied varnish on these objects breaks down and tarnish forms under the varnish. Eventually the brass becomes mottled with brown spots that cannot be removed with normal metal polishes. All is not lost though. A little elbow grease and the following process can restore brass to its former beauty.
First Step: Remove the Factory Applied Varnish from the Brass
Before the metal can be properly cleaned and polished, all the factory-applied varnish must be removed. Use a paint stripper like Jasco’s Biodegradable Stripper made for use on metal as well as wood. Apply the stripper according to the package instructions and follow all recommended safety precautions. Let the stripper sit on the brass for the suggested amount of time—usually 30 minutes. As the stripper does its work, the surface of the brass will appear wrinkled—this is the old varnish coming off. It looks awful, but the metal is not harmed by the stripper.
Second Step: Remove the Paint Stripper
A putty knife is usually used for removing paint stripper from flat surfaces, but since brass objects are rarely flat, a stiff toothbrush works best. Use paper towels or rags to wipe the last of the stripper from the brass, and let the object sit until the surface dries. Most brands of paint stripper recommend sanding the stripped surface at this point, but sanding brass scratches it. Instead, use a very fine grade of steel wool to polish the surface and remove the last of the stripper and varnish. Pay attention to grooves and crevices.
Third Step: Clean off the Tarnish with Ammonia
Once the brass object is stripped of varnish, it is easy to remove the tarnish. Ordinary household ammonia works best. Small objects can be soaked in a 50-50 mixture of water and ammonia. For larger objects, such as lanterns or dorades that cannot be easily immersed, soak a rag in the ammonia and water solution, and lay it on the brass. Severely tarnished objects may take several treatments to remove all the dark brown splotches. The ammonia can also be used full strength, if needed. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area.
Final Step: Polish with Fine Steel Wool
After removing the tarnish with ammonia, the brass can be polished to a high shine with very fine steel wool. Some people follow this step with a brass polish such as Brass-O or Nevr-Dull, and then remove the film of the polish with a clean, soft rag.
Re-varnish the Brass, or Not
To preserve the shine, the brass can be re-varnished. To do this, use a good quality, clear gloss spray varnish, applied in several light coats. This will protect the surface of the brass and keep it shiny for a while, but eventually the whole process of stripping and polishing will need to be repeated. The shine can also be maintained, without varnishing, by regularly polishing the brass with Brass-O or Nevr-Dull.
Maintaining brass fittings takes some time, but the results are well worth the effort.
Keep Brass Fittings on Boats Looking Like New.
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