I didn't mention in the earlier post how I cleaned mine up. BUt this is
what I did:
I took a toothbrush and some DuPont polishing compound and scrubbed it
to get all the crud off (not shiny at this point).
Then I installed a cotton buffing wheel on my bench grinder and with
some polishing rouge made for soft metals, I polished the high points
and left the low points dark with the accumulated black tarnish. This
gives a very sharp 3-D effect and makes the details really stand out.
Finally, I cleaned it up with PPG AcryliClean and sprayed it with clear
laquer to protect the metal against tarnish.
Joe
Ryan Smith wrote:
>
> Disclaimer: Results may very, see particpating stores for details.
>
> Vic, you may need to soak it for a longer amount of time depending on
> the amount of oxidation. You could soak it for weeks and no harm will
> be done to the metal. Acetic acid just isn't very corrosive. When I
> took mine out of the vinegar the first time it was kinda coppery colored
> after rinsing and hitting it with a Brillo pad it was more or less brass
> colored. Soaking it again got it a bit lighter. And polishing it
> really brought out the shine. You'll be surprised how much black stuff
> will come off that little badge when you polish it. I totally destroyed
> an old t-shirt.
>
> Thinking back to chemistry if you want to speed up the reaction of the
> vinegar you could pour some NaCl (salt) on it while immersed in the
> vinegar. It will strip the metal a lot faster but will also make it
> tarnish quicker unless treated. I DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING THIS. Just
> let the vinegar do its thing.
>
> Ryan
>
> >
> >As soon as I read Ryan's suggestion, I ran out to the tool box and
> >taking Joe's tip on using a putty knife, I was able to get mine off the
> >dash without too much trouble and without any solvents.
> >
> >My badge has been soaking since then.
> >It looks like the vinegar is ruining it. The brown spots have turned
> to
> >a copper color while the rest has turned two toned brass. I'm sure when
> >I've let it sit for 2 days it will be fine. Right Ryan?! ;)
> >
> >Vic
> >
> >bharris wrote:
> >>
> >> Joe,Ryan,anyone else,
> >>
> >> Just the tip I was looking for!! Now can someone tell me the best
> way
> >> to remove this badge without bending it?
> >
> >> I'm just so pleased with how this came out I had to tell everyone.
> My
> >> 72 Spit was missing its dash badge so I pried one off a 73 when I
> picked
> >> up my car. It was pretty nasty after sitting in that TR graveyard
> for
> >> several years. Its color was sort of chocolate. Well I've just
> gotten
> >> around to "restoring" it with fantastic results. Heres how...
> >>
> >> First I soaked it in WHITE vinegar for around 2 days I guess. This
> >> really brightened it up. The acetic (sp?) acid is quite weak and
> won't
> >> really hurt anything. Then I rinsed it off and gave it a light
> >> scrubbing with some steel wool. Voila! A brand new badge. This
> thing
> >> looks like its made of gold now. Just for good measure I just
> changed
> >> the vinegar out and I'm going to soak for another 24 in some fresh
> >> stuff. I'll give it another light scrub and maybe cover it with
> silver
> >> polish. Assuming you have the badge off your dash this method can't
> >> miss.
> >>
> >> Try it!
> >>
> >> Ryan Smith
> >
> >--
> >Regards,
> >
> >Vic
> >
> >---------------------------------------------------------
> >Victor Michael | vmichael@tibco.com
> >Systems Engineer | Voice (312) 214-2327
> >TIBCO Finance Technology Inc. | Pager (800) 759-8888
> >CTS, Chicago | Pin# 1583904
> >---------------------------------------------------------
> >'77 Spitfire (fm62959u) http://www.enteract.com/~vmichael
> >---------------------------------------------------------
> >
--
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
-- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
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