MTFCA Forum

I have a very nice 1915 roadster that I will be selling for a family friend who passed away a while back, starting to polish the brass all the lamps and other items seem to clean up great but the radiator seems like the more I polish nothing seems to work, I have no idea if it was lacquered or not, nothing is peeling off, it might be just stubborn brass, any ideas? Bob

It looks lacquered to me. I agree with Jeff

You can also take a razor blade to an unseen spot. You should see it flake off if coated.

Rub a damp finger over a spot. Touch the finger to the tip of your tongue. Copper taste= no lacquer.

No copper taste, I do not know if thinner will cut it, I hate when they do this is there any stripper to use? Bob

Lacquer thinner and Scotchbrite should do it, though it may take patience and a bit of elbow grease. You wouldn't want to take a chance using a harsh paint stripper; it might discolor or even attack the brass and leave you with a far worse situation.

Another possibility would be to take it to your local plating shop and have them strip and buff it for you. In my town we have a metal finishing shop that does great work; they've done my radiator for me, buffing out quite a large and deep scratch at one point.

Could also be a clear urethane. That would require an automotive paint remover.

thinner and scotch bright seems to work in a small area but leaving tiny scratches, how about 000 steel wool? or will get same results,

0000 ! Yup. Same result, less scratches.

oooo 3 m pad and lacquer thinner are taking a lot off but dull brass left, trying all kinds of polish but nothing wants to brighten it back to where it should be, why do some folks do this to brass knowing in the long run it is a very disturbing job?
sometimes I think I try to be too nice for friends knowing what I am in store for.
90 + today, time to re start this job in the morning. Bob

Looks laquered to me, too. (The speckley finish is what says that to me...). My dad's 15 roadster (the one I took my driving test in ) had a lacquered radiator that looked just like that.

Safest way to do it is take the radiator off (not hard to do) to protect the paint on the car, use lacquer thinner or acetone to remove the lacquer (may need to use steel wool, DEFINITELY need to wear gloves!!), repolish the radiator using a buffer, and reinstall.

I used Aircraft paint remover on these lights, took if off in seconds and washed off with water. The one on the top is uncleaned the bottom with the clear whatever removed, then I later polished them up nicely.

a dumb question, I am getting the lacquer of but its a dull brass look, polish not doing anything, no one around here that will polish the radiator, what will rubbing compound do? any help appreciated, Bob

https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mode ... 29346.html
Others may carry it too.

I have tried half a can, does nothing and this is what U use most of the time, Bog
going to try rubbing compound

I've had good luck with this on aluminum, just add elbow grease.
Most parts stores carry it.

Blue Magic is an EXCELLENT product....

Aircraft Paint Remover will remove almost anything, removes powder coat, so test try in inconspicuous spot. I have used Rust-oleum product - Autozone. Many brands available. BUT this stuff will burn your skin so be careful with it. I also wonder if the brass is stained by steam/antifreeze splatter when the radiator cap was removed.

Bob, A rotary tool with a buffing wheel should get that radiator shining. I know you can get buffing rouge at harbor freight. Used to be able to get it at Sears but of course they are no more. It will take some time but once buffed a coat of good brass polish should remove small scratches. If I recall Steve Jelf had a thread on the old forum where he buffed the radiator on his 15 roadster. I think he had some type of buffing/polishing head he chucked in a drill.

Google 'Radiator Buffing MTFCA' and you will come up with some advice on cleaning up the radiator. The first thread returned by Google has the Jelf method in it. Hope this helps.

Fatman,
The easiest, quickest, polish for tarnished brass I have found after trying every polish know to man is Brite Boy! I buy it by the gallon at the janitorial supply store BUT it doesn't give the best deep luster that all brass lovers look for. After a quick cleaning/polish with the Brite Boy I go over it with Mothers Billett, Prism, or Blue Luster. Each of those has a wax or film that helps prolong the shine.

Use Caution with any mechanical polishers because you can ruin the brass by wearing off lettering pretty easy.

Possibly you brass still has some of the original residue left on it may be the reason why your polishers don't seem to be working.
Good Luck
I didn't see where you are but I can send you a sample of the B/B

You can use 2000 grit or finer wet/dry paper and take out all the scratches from what you have done so far and also will remove any left over clear and then it will polish with Mothers or your favorite product. I have done it on brass horn parts and lights but don't use it on places you can not reach easy. The fine paper will almost make it shine when you do it and the finer the better. You can find it at the local auto supply store. I would do it wet.