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AFCA Forums > Antique Fan Collectors Association > Pre-1950 (Antique) > What is the best thing I can buy to clean and polish chrome- aluminum for fan blades?

What is the best thing I can buy to clean and polish chrome- aluminum for fan blades?
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Luke Skelnik
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 Posted: Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 01:00 am
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I am wondering what is the best[ but not too harsh] cleaner to use to clean and polish insanely dirty and tarnished chrome - aluminum & brass fan blades? Thanks!

Brandon Tuomikoski
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 Posted: Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 03:19 am
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I have used Mothers aluminum polish and some steel wool. (#000 and #0000) On my vacuum cleaners. Its a very good polish.

But I have not worked with terribly tarnished machines yet. Ive put it on my hoover from 1929 and it was pitted and a deep dull grey. The mothers polish made it shine great!! But of course a bench polisher would make it look professional.

For brass, I have yet to polish! I tried to polish the Daytons blades with no luck at all. They are very deeply tarnished.

Ron Powell
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 Posted: Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 03:29 am
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Most of the time you really don't want to use a buffer on old chrome but as Brandon said, Mother's mag wheel polish works pretty dang good on about everything except badly tarnished brass unless you got arms like Hulk Hogan a buffer is the best. You can coat your brass with some Lysol toilet bowl cleaner (not the scented stuff in the green but the regular) for just a couple of moments you'll see it change the color of the brass. Then rinse thoroughly, dry and then buff. If no Buffer well, get out the elbow grease and Brasso.
Make sure not to leave the Lysol on too long or it will really discolor the brass and then your really going to have buff, buff, buff.

Last edited on Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 03:31 am by Ron Powell

Brandon Tuomikoski
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 Posted: Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 03:34 am
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I attempted Brasso on my fan but got no results except for on the logo cap thing. The blades were not affected at all it seems. :wondering:

And I wasn't even thinking. I dont know much about polishing chrome on old appliances. The vacuums that i have done/seen done are aluminum.

Steve Stephens
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 Posted: Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 03:42 am
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Most brass blades have or had a coating of lacquer. You have to remove that before you can start the polishing of the brass. I use Wenol on my brass; that is all ONE of the blades that I have polished and they came out PERFECT.

Brandon Tuomikoski
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 Posted: Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 03:49 am
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Will finger nail polish remover work by chance? If not, I will for sure buy some Wenol! I need to get this restoration cookin!

Last edited on Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 03:49 am by Brandon Tuomikoski

Ron Powell
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 Posted: Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 04:22 am
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Stripease or Lacquer thinner will take the clear coat off your blades with no problems.

L Snell
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 Posted: Tue Nov 3rd, 2009 06:18 pm
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Ron Powell wrote: Stripease or Lacquer thinner will take the clear coat off your blades with no problems.


Ron,

I have to say thank you for your wisdom and insight with these fans and the cleaning of them.  Even though I have just signed up on the boards, I have been using your info for years to get my fans in better shape.  Hats off to you.

Thank You Very Much,

L Snell

 

Barry Michaels
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 Posted: Tue Nov 3rd, 2009 08:35 pm
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Mothers worked very well for me. Hope this helps.

L Snell
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 Posted: Wed Nov 4th, 2009 07:22 am
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L Snell wrote: Ron Powell wrote: Stripease or Lacquer thinner will take the clear coat off your blades with no problems.


Ron,

I have to say thank you for your wisdom and insight with these fans and the cleaning of them.  Even though I have just signed up on the boards, I have been using your info for years to get my fans in better shape.  Hats off to you.

Thank You Very Much,

L Snell

 
I don't want to leave Brandon out of the thinks.  I just used some of Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish on an old all chrome fan that now looks like a little beauty.   :clap:I may have to post a pictue of this unit as it does not have a single label on it.  I believe the tag has been removed from the cage.  Anyway, I'm not sure who made it, but it would be nice to find out.

Last edited on Wed Nov 4th, 2009 07:25 am by L Snell

Steve Stephens
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 Posted: Wed Nov 4th, 2009 05:15 pm
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QUOTE feature...

Please learn to use it correctly or it is better to just REPLY. If you don't know how to use it just try things and keep editing your post until you get it right. I'd be glad to help anyone who has questions on how to use QUOTE. Your posts are much easier to read and understand if you don't fill it up with quoted parts of posts that don't apply to what YOU are posting.

Look at your previous post above L Snell; that's done right.
Thanks,
Steve

Last edited on Wed Nov 4th, 2009 05:52 pm by Steve Stephens

Adam Rohn
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 Posted: Wed Nov 4th, 2009 09:24 pm
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On both chrome and brass what I've found to work the best without much scrubbing is All Metal polish and cleaner

L Snell
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 Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 03:03 am
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Steve Stephens wrote: QUOTE feature...

Please learn to use it correctly or it is better to just REPLY. If you don't know how to use it just try things and keep editing your post until you get it right. I'd be glad to help anyone who has questions on how to use QUOTE. Your posts are much easier to read and understand if you don't fill it up with quoted parts of posts that don't apply to what YOU are posting.

Look at your previous post above L Snell; that's done right.
Thanks,
Steve
This board's QUOTE works a little different than others, and sorry, it was my 4th post on this board.  I'm not sure I did it correctly.  L Snell

Adam Rohn
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 Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 03:05 am
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I mistyped earlier..The polish/cleaner is called Mr Metal


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