NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Bill B
Date: 2015 Apr 17, 12:01 -0700
Pelorus restoration
Three questions:
*Best method of protecting restored brass and bronze for exterior use.
*How to remove brass screws that may have been in place for 70 years.
*Opinions on the abrasive qualities of Semichrome, MAAS and Flitz metal polishes.
I recently purchased a pelorus said to have been used for compass adjustment on ships in the South Pacific during WWII. It is solid brass and bronze, and fully functional although in need of some cosmetic TLC. The entire unit was painted black, but I intend to strip parts of it down to bare metal. (It is an antique, but not a museum piece, so removing the finish is a non issue.)
I experimented with the yoke, which is dinged up, required some truing to work with the gimbal, and was missing paint in some areas. After paint removal with Citristrip the surface was mottled. Barkeepers Friend did an excellent job restoring it to a uniform color. A spiral-sewn buffing wheel dressed with Tripoli restored the shine. (Given its condition, coloring with white rouge would be overkill.) Any traces of the compound remaining on the yoke were removed with Nevr Dull (basically kerosene and ammonia).
At this stage I am seeking the best way to prevent restored surfaces from tarnishing. The pelorus will spend most of its life in at home, and travel to various boats for play and compass adjustment/calibration. The unit will not be exposed to the elements for extended periods of time.
To the point, what is the best way to protect the brass and bronze? (Product specific please if possible.) BTW Currently I do not have a source for single units of Permalac or genuine Incralac.
Thanks