GP PAPS V2.5 LUX EDITION TIPS & TRICKS
POLISHING THE GP PAPS LUX
The traditional method of polishing the bronze is by rubbing it with a cloth soaked into a half glass of vinegar with a teaspoonful of salt, or using contemporary polishers like Autosol for chrome coated surfaces, all in all, a 5-20 minutes work, depending on the level of oxidisation which has been developed.
You can use salt and vinegar - add salt to make a paste, spread said paste upon your bronze, and wait. This will work, but if you want to make it really easy, just use some ketchup - no kidding, ketchup (or catsup, if you prefer) is both salty and acidic, contains sugar to make it sticky, and does a great job. After waiting 10 minutes to a couple of hours - depending on the degree of patina/oxidation, wipe off and rinse with plenty of fresh water. Everything which was brown or green should now look reddish or gold. The surface is still dull, though, and that leads to the next step.
If you want to be clean and ecologically green, baking soda is a reasonable abrasive, white toothpaste works as well. You can also make your own polish with pumice powder mixed with a bit of olive oil or water. Your easiest solution, however, is to get whatever metal polish is cheapest at the hardware store, as it will have chemicals (mineral spirits, ammonia, urea, ethanol) that help break down dirt, grease and oxidation, as well as some form of grit to help cut through the patina. Some popular polishes are Brite Boy, Flitz and Nevr-Dull, but there are many more. They all basically do the same thing, though some brands have a "protective" residue which is usually oil and/or wax, and doesn't work for long when faced with salt spray and direct sunlight.
Depending on the size and shape of the object, you can use polishing wheels, buffers, Dremel attachments, and/or do it by hand. In most cases a commercial metal polish will give excellent results within a reasonable amount of time, as long as the object has been polished since it was cast. The LUX tubes are polished in the first place, so the whole procedure needs no further steps. Eventually, you will have that golden, mirror finish you were hoping for.
There are two basic homemade polishes you can use to clean and polish your bronze. Using either method will help you safely remove the patina on your bronze pieces and restore their luster and shine. Both methods are equally as effective, so the choice is yours.
Baking Soda & Lemon Juice
What You Will Need:
Warm water
Clean towel
Small dish
Soft cotton polishing cloths (smaller size)
Lemon Juice (from concentrate is okay)
Baking soda
Rubber gloves (optional)
Clean that Bronze:
Rinse your bronze items in warm water, and dry thoroughly. This will safely remove any dust and/or particles that may hamper your polishing efforts.
Place about 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a small dish.
Drizzle a small amount of lemon juice onto the baking soda and mix until a soft paste forms (start out with just a little lemon juice and add more as needed). It is normal for the mixture to bubble at first, and will settle down after a moment or two.
Apply the paste to your bronze item using your hands (with the rubber gloves) or with a small polishing cloth.
With a polishing cloth, rub the paste onto the item using small circular motions. This is the key removal step and you may have to rub repeatedly until the desired effect is reached.
Allow the paste to stay on the item for 20 to 30 minutes.
Rinse the item thoroughly with warm water to remove the paste and buff dry with a clean towel.
If the greenish patina still remains, repeat steps 2 through 7.
Vinegar, Flour & Salt
What You Will Need:
Warm water
Clean towel
Small dish
Soft cotton polishing cloths (smaller size)
Distilled white vinegar
Flour
Salt
Rubber gloves (optional)
Clean that Bronze:
Rinse your bronze items in warm water and dry thoroughly. This will safely remove any dust and/or particles that may hamper your polishing efforts.
In a small dish, combine equal parts flour and salt.
Add white vinegar to the flour/salt mixture, using a few drops at a time until a soft paste forms (should be the consistency of toothpaste).
Apply the paste to your bronze item using your hands (with the rubber gloves) or with a small polishing cloth.
With a polishing cloth, rub the paste onto the item using small circular motions. This is the key removal step and you may have to rub repeatedly until the desired effect is reached.
Allow the paste to stay on the item for 20 to 30 minutes.
Rinse the item thoroughly with warm water to remove the paste and buff dry with a clean towel.
If the greenish patina still remains, repeat steps 2 through 7.
Additional Tips and Advice
In lieu of polishing cloths, try using an old white cotton tee shirt, cut into squares.
This process, while relatively simple, takes time and patience as the greenish patina may be quite stubborn and will require a bit of elbow grease to remove.
If the bronze item is small or has a lot of crevices and tight spots, try using a soft bristled toothbrush to rub the paste into hard to reach areas.
Although occasional polishing will keep your bronze looking shiny, using these methods too often may have the opposite effect, reducing the luster of the bronze finish.
Maintain your bronze items by regular dusting and rinsing; regular care will keep your bronze looking it’s best and lessen the need for more frequent polishing.
When you rinse your bronze items, be sure to dry thoroughly. While bronze is resistant to moisture, allowing it to remain wet and air-dry will hasten the formation of patina.
There are some commercial polishes available for bronze (usually in specialized stores or online). Some of these products can be harsh and are generally no more effective than the above polishing pastes.
The above cleaning techniques may also work well with brass items, since brass is also a copper alloy (copper and zinc).
Sources:
http://yachtpals.com/polishing-bronze-7051]How To Polish Bronze | YachtPals.com
How to Clean Bronze | Metals
A note of caution
Don't pass any abrasive polisher like BRASSO over the gold plated parts, it will peel off their coating. A soft wet cloth is enough, avoid rubbing the surface or using any chemicals and don't put the gold plated parts inside an ultrasonic cleaner.
