Polishing Old Copper Fire Extinguishers

A. They are good looking units aren't they. I have one hanging on my living room wall for many years now. These were baking soda, acid fire extinguishers. To activate you turned them upside down, dumping the baking soda into the acid water. You can easily see this effect by putting baking soda [in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] into vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] in your kitchen.

The results of the mixing were the production of Carbon dioxide gas, and pressure to propel the liquid at the fire, and some extinguishing through the production of the carbon dioxide.

Many of these old copper and brass extinguishers were coated with lacquer to retain their brightness as they hung in both the office and shop areas of businesses.

Try first washing the outside with either lacquer thinner ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] Warning! highly flammable! , Methyl Ethyl Ketone, or acetone ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] Warning! highly Flammable! . BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL, as all of these are highly flammable solvents. Be sure to remove the hose as these solvents will eat the rubber hose alive. Then after removal of the lacquer coating, polish with a good quality copper and brass cleaner. To keep it looking nice for many years thereafter, re-apply the clear coat brass lacquer ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] .

Hope that helps!

Adv: For larger quantities of brass lacquer, please try G.J. Nikolas [a finishing.com supporting advertiser].

A. The best way to get a great shine on those brass or chrome extinguishers is to take them to a metal polishing shop. Just make sure to tell them that the wheel has to turn AWAY from the edges of any of the labels. Then have them dip them in the clear coat that they use. Should cost you about $60.00 tops, but you will have an unbelievable finish that will last for years.

Hi Bene,

I'm not sure if you've done anything to that copper extinguisher, but if you're still deciding, I have to agree with Ronald R., from Pomona, Calif. I worked at a metal polishing shop and I restored two very similar old copper "Alert" extinguishers while I worked there. They came out looking fantastic. I converted them into floor lamps and I use them to this day. One sits next to me at my computer! I did them over seven years ago and they still look incredible. So, I'd suggest taking it to a good shop, you'll save yourself a ton of time and it'll come out looking tens times better than if you did it yourself. Be sure to have it spray lacquered (several coats) immediately after it is polished, the shop should be able to do that as well. If you do get this message, you should update us on which decision you made, and send in a photo of how the extinguisher turned out. I'd be interested. Good luck with it.

A. I have cleaned up several of them and they were very tarnished I just used a cleanser polish the one I used was called Barkeepers Friend ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . it is specifically for copper brass stainless It is a powder form I used this to take the heavy tarnish off then I followed up with a liquid polish called Brasso ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and yes you will have to rub and rub and rub a lot just takes a little time if you have patience I'm sure you can do it

A. When I was in the Navy we used Nevr-Dull ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and bug juice (kool aid) usually yellow or orange color due to the color. It worked well for navy copper and brass. Never used it on fire extinguishers.

Good luck.

A. I have the same one almost. It had a green paint on it that I thought was tarnish, so I wheeled it like I would do a truck aluminum fuel tank. I put my 2 vector variable speed angle grinder-polishers in 2 vises. one with a yellow united pacific 8" airway pad ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] the other with a united white pad, I use a 2 lb block of brown tripoli buffing compound ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] with the yellow pad which is course to get the heavy stuff off, then a jackson-lea green 2 lb block to take the swirl marks out, then wipe polish with my Brooklyn Ball Busters Best aluminum polish and a terry cloth rag, when it's cool /damp out it take a few minutes to dry, a old timer showed me a shortcut, I get a coffee can and fill it with flour, I dip a dry rag in the flour and wipe it off.
The flour pulls the oxidation out a little better, dries it off faster and keeps your hands cleaner.
DON'T BUFF TOO HARD, I found out that they're not really copper, mine is copper coated.
Happy polishing.
Rick

Dremel Kits

on eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

A. I just picked up 5 of these copper extinguishers to clean up and hang in my Fire Station. I've been using Brasso ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , a Dremel ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] with polishing pads, and towels for a combo of power and hand polish. Works Great

A. Hi,
I used a bottle of ketchup on a very tarnished large copper cow weather vane. I wasn't even sure it was copper, it was so tarnished. Brush the ketchup on and let it stand for about 30 mins, rinse, then polish it up! No gloves or goggles necessary.

A. I've cleaned many of these extinguishers with a mixture that is quite simple. Find a container large enough to submerge the extinguisher. Fill container with equal parts coke and ammonia. Submerge extinguisher and let stand. The longer you let it sit, the better it works. Hope this helps.

A. TO CLEAN YOUR EXTINGUISHERS, USE OLD COTTON SOCKS, LIKE CREW SOCKS, AND Brasso ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . PUT Brasso ON THE SOCK AND RUB THE EXTINGUISHER. THE SOCK WILL TURN BLACK AND GREENISH.
DO A SECTION AT A TIME. LET THE BRASSO DRY EACH TIME AND RUB THE AREA WITH A CLEAN SOCK, CONTINUE UNTIL YOU GET THE SHINE YOU WANT.

A. Hi, Jacklyn. It will not stay bright if it's not lacquered, so you won't have to wait long for it to lose the luster. You could just leave it be for a few months. But you can accelerate the tarnishing by spritzing with vinegar and salt, or even a very dilute washing with liver of sulfur ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] (this can turn it brown-black very quickly).

If this were a Roman coin or a civil war artifact, removing the tarnish could devalue it. But these fire extinguishers, while cute old collectible items, are far from precious; and I'm sure no one considers the natural tarnish to be of historic value. Maybe in another two hundred years. For now, some people prefer bright and some people prefer tarnished.

Regards,

A. Hi, Tony. We've linked to a book on Firefighting Collectibles. Also look for similar stuff on eBay and Etsy and other used/collectible sites. There are probably pawn shops and antique shops in the nearest large city if not in your town. Good luck.

Regards,

A. I have polished a number of these from total junk to a bright shine. I have found you can put every chemical known to man but it just removes the top layer. You have to bite the bullet go out and get a bench grinder or preferably a polisher from Harbor Freight. Get a buffing kit comprising three different buffing wheels. Purchase two grades of polishing compound and start getting filthy. On a piece like yours it will take about eight hours of actual work but when it is done you will be extremely satisfied. To purchase these items is very inexpensive.

I save these pieces up over the summer from estate sales and spend hours upon hours polishing. You will kill an extreme amount of time but the satisfaction factor is well worth it.