Care & Cleaning
We do not recommend the polishing of very old or vintage brasses.
If the horse brass has been lacquered then this should be removed with acetone (nail polish remover).
The horse brass may then be polished with a proprietary brand such as Brasso, paste polishes or commercial non-scratch wadding which has been impregnated with polish. Some commercial polishes come with sponges and applicators which are most handy.
It should be noted that brass can be stained or damaged by reacting with oxygen and sulphur, which are present in air as well as the constituents of foodstuffs, etc.
Brass is a fairly soft metal and will abrade and scratch quite easily.
Horse brasses which are heavily patterned or chased are best done with a soft brush and then rubbed up with a soft duster. It is recommended that rubber gloves be used when applying polish and cotton gloves for polishing. This practice will prevent fingernail scratching and the leaving of fingerprints on the brass.
Always keep your dusting cloths in a plastic packet so as to prevent them from being contaminated with dust and grit.
In the event that a horse brass is heavily tarnished it should be cleaned with conventional polish
Should the horse brass have for some reason been burnt it can be cleaned with a cut lemon/lime dipped in a mild abrasive paste or salt can also be used.
It should be noted that it is the abrasive action which removes the tarnish and the polishing which smoothes the metal and fills the gaps which were scratched.
If a horse brass is very tarnished or needs repair, and has value, then it is recommended that it be taken to an expert in metal craft.
