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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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How do I clean the protective coating off a brass plaque?
I have several brass plaques that hung on the outside of a building. They are coated with some plastic material. I've tried glass bead blasting, turpentine, acetone, lacquer thinner with no success. Acetone did soften the material but just smeared it around on the piece and would not remove it. Any suggestions?
Tom Atkinsemployee - Terre Haute, Indiana
February 1, 2011
Try 2 parts acetone ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] Warning! highly Flammable! +1 part ammonia ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] (25%) mixture. Hope it helps and good luck!
Goran Budija- Cerovski vrh Croatia
February 3, 2011
Try with the strongest paint remover you can find. They have mineral spirits plus a strong alkali (caustic soda or potash).
G. Marrufo-Mexico
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
February 10, 2011
I think I want to disagree with Guillermo on this one, which is quite a rare thing. I would be concerned about using a paint remover on brass that has caustic in it, for fear of etching the brass. But aircraft stripper, although noxious stuff based on methylene chloride and requiring protective equipment plus good ventilation, is extremely powerful at removing finishes without attacking metals.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February 12, 2011
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