Removing heavy tarnish from brass

[savarin]

I have two brass toasting forks that used to hang either side of the fire at my grandfathers house.
We used these to toast bread and crumpets on the coal fire in the main living room for tea.
Theyve been stored for over 40 years in the shed so are crusted in thick blue corrosion and tarnish.
What is the best method to remove this heavy encrustation as I would like to restore and polish them to how I remember they were.

 

[darkzero]

I've never tried it myself but there's the YT channel I watch called My Mechanics that does restoration on old tools. He uses vinegar, salt, & flour to make a paste. Coats the brass parts, wraps them in saran wrap, let them sit overnight, then wash off with water. Appears to work very well.

 

[savarin]

I will give it a try, thanks

 

[Ulma Doctor]

i have used a product called Brasso

Amazon.com: Brasso-2660089334 Multi-Purpose Metal Polish, 8 oz: Health & Personal Care

Buy Brasso-2660089334 Multi-Purpose Metal Polish, 8 oz on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

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it works well for mildly tarnished parts, but you'll need a wire wheel first to get the encrusted zinc oxides off first in your case

hydrogen peroxide may be useful here

 

[mmcmdl]

He uses vinegar, salt, & flour

Sounds like a great weed killer also Will . I mix up vinegar , salt and Dawn for my weed killer every year . Kills them in an hour or so .

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

What proportions for the weed killer, I mean brass cleaner.

 

[darkzero]

Sounds like a great weed killer also Will . I mix up vinegar , salt and Dawn for my weed killer every year . Kills them in an hour or so .

Here in Cali, we don't kill the weeds.

 

[cathead]

After finding a set of andirons out in the woods in a dump, a knife was used to scrape off the black to reveal that they were
brass. After that it was a wire wheel and then brass cleaner(Brasso). I still have them proudly. Who would throw
away solid brass andirons?

 

[CluelessNewB]

Nevr-dull, wadding polish

 

[Doug Gray]

To my mind a wire wheel is way to harsh for decorative brass. Vinegar concoction first to get down to the brass then brass polish.