Cleaning Bronze

I know this is not a coin but like collecting stuff on Benjamin Franklin and thought this was a pretty cool plaque. Anyone know how to go about cleaning a bronze plaque? As you can see has quite a bit of oxidation on it. I figured the expertise on bronze coins might help with this. Thanks in advance.

 

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Great!

 

Ask BadThad if Verdigone would do the trick.

 

Lighter fluid?

 

Haha

 

propane gas jetted as high pressure with a nozzle?

You guys are being very helpful here

 

If it is not valuable then I would say like tarn-x or something.

 

Nice looking plaque. Hope you can restore it.
Try this for advice
http://www.ehow.com/how_2173946_clean-polish-bronze.html

 

eHow, I hope their instructions on cleaning bronze are better than their info on how to throw a knuckleball LOL.

 

I will give that a try...Thanks for the link.

 

Try it on a small inconspicious place 1st...maybe on the back of it?

 

tarn-x, never. I'd find out if vertigone would do the trick first. then maybe a toothbrush and just some water to get the grime out if any, a very soft toothbrush.

 

Sorry....devil made me do it.

 

and to think I went looking for lighter fluid!:goofer:

 

In a serious note I would simply try jewlery cleaner from Walmart. However, it is obvous you can not lower that into the jar, so just wet a cotton ball and lightly wipe the entire surface. Note I said the entire surface so the end results are consistant. You could also try swabbing with Acetone but make sure you try that one outside if you do.
Your bigger problem will be how to stop any further corrosion, tarnishing, toning, darkening, etc. Remember that Bronze is just Copper mixed with other materials so it is suseptable to the same things as Copper is.
Bronze is in reality a mixture of Copper, Tin and various other materials such as Phosphorus, Manganese, Aluminum, Silicon, etc. depending on what someone wants the finished product to appear like.
IF, and that is a big IF, you want to preserve that and it is not really to valuable, you may want to look into metal polishes. Or if you know someone that is great with wood, you may want to ask them about a Laquer Coating with non yellowing Laquer.
And always remember that as a last resort you can just send that to me and no more problems.

 

That thing was probably polished for years in an office building, possibly exposed to the weather. Use a commercial brass cleaner, something less abrassive than Brasso.

 

Brasso maybe?

This plaque was outdoors right?

I wouldn't be all that concerned about hairlines and the like, it's not a coin... scrub that puppy!

 

I would go with Brasso too . but that's if you want it shinny dd:

 

Cleaners are harsh it's why we don't clean coins. So truthfully this is not the place to ask. I'd contact the local capital building in your area and ask them who they use to help preserve their building or contact a museum.

 

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