The Care and Maintenance
of Bright Brass

The tarnishing of brass, especially on an exterior application, is a natural process. This is due to a breakdown of the lacquer as it's exposed to environmental conditions such as salt air, ultra violet rays, chemical, and air pollutants. Some areas are more affected by these conditions than others. As a result, there is no warranty on the longevity of the original finish.

To prolong the original finish, several steps can be taken to retard the tarnishing process. These are:

• Apply a non-abrasive polymer-based automobile wax to new brass before installation. This wax should be applied tow or three times a year.
  
  
• Do not install brass until after the treating of nearby brick or wood has been completed (including paints and stains). These chemicals may accelerate the breakdown of lacquer. You may want to contact the manufacturer of the treating compound to determine when they consider the curing process complete.
  
  
• To clean, use a soft cloth dampened with mild, soapy water.
  
  
• Do not use harsh chemical cleaners on brass.

When tarnishing occurs, there are several steps that you may want to consider to renew the finish. These are:

• Remove the old lacquer. This can be done using an extra fine (0000 grade) steel wool and paint stripper.
  
  
• Polish the brass. Use whatever brass polish you prefer (e.g., Brasso or Noxon).
  
  
• Seal the finish with either a high quality, non-abrasive, polymer car wax or a solvent cleaner, followed with a coating of exterior polyurethane sealer. Either way is acceptable, although if a polyurethane is used, future coatings require that the coating be removed in the same manner as the original lacquer.

As a point of reference, once the original lacquer is off, polishing will be required every several months.