How do I polish a Copeland whistle?

[celticpromise]

I have a Copeland low D that needs a bit of shining up. The finish is dull with a few dark spots. Is there a preferred way to polish a brass whistle that is safe on the finish and non-toxic for the whistler? I have a couple of Sindts that could use some work as well. Any feedback is appreciated. These Copeland's really look great when shined- up.

[Loren]

This should do the trick : http://www.musiciansfriend.com/woodwind ... -cloth-set

If it's super tarnished you may need to go with a liquid, cream, or paste polishing compound, but that's rarely necessary.

OTH, if you have access to a buffing wheel, you can make it look brand new in about 2 minutes

[MTGuru]

How do I polish a Copeland whistle?

With whistle polish?

Seriously, any non-abrasive brass polish will work. I use SimiChrome on all my whistles with excellent results. Some purists may freak out about about the ammonia base, but it dissipates quickly in the minute quantities of occasional use and does no harm. Cloths like Loren's LeBlanc cloth are fine with a bit more effort. Sunshine cloths (available on eBay) or Blitz cloths also work well. For occasional touch-ups, I also use a jeweler's rouge cloth. And if you like, a light coating of beeswax or carnauba wax can help preserve your newly-polished masterpiece.

[DrPhill]

Over this side of the pond we have a skin medicine called 'Sudocrem'. It is a paste made of fine zinc oxide powder and castor oil. It is considered 'non-toxic', and it also works as a fine polishing paste. You may prefer this to more conventional polishes if you are worried about toxicity.

Another reasonably benign polish is toothpaste - but I would find the minty smell too distracting.

I have used both of thee above to polish brass.

[Steve Bliven]

Over this side of the pond we have a skin medicine called 'Sudocrem'. ....castor oil. ..... 'non-toxic'.

"Castor oil", "non-toxic" both in the same sentence

Brings back one of the terrors of childhood.

Best wishes.

Steve

[Feadoggie]

"Castor oil", "non-toxic" both in the same sentence

Right. Ricin isn't harmful or anything. Is it?

Feadoggie

[DrPhill]

Ooooops - castor oil was the original formulation. Castor oil does come from the castor plant which does contain ricin. However:

Commercially available cold-pressed castor oil is not toxic to humans in normal doses, either internal or externally.

The castor seed contains ricin, a toxic protein. Heating during the oil extraction process denatures and inactivates the protein.

In the food industry, castor oil (food grade) is used in food additives,[13] flavorings, candy (e.g., Polyglycerol polyricinoleate or PGPR in chocolate),[14] as a mold inhibitor, and in packaging.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has categorized castor oil as "generally recognized as safe and effective" (GRASE) for over-the-counter use as a laxative with its major site of action the small intestine where it is digested into Ricinoleic acid.[17]

Wikipedia is your friend........

[slowair]

This is from Zubivka:

Heat a glass or two of vinegar in a pan, bring it to boiling while dissolving kitchen salt in it to saturation. I.e. keep adding salt and stirring until the salt doesn't seem to dissolve any more. It does take a lot, like half-a-glass of salt.

Watch out, do this soup in a well ventilated kitchen: there's chlorine evaporating.

Let it cool outside. Pour in a bottle, slowly to leave the salt deposit in the pan. Stopper the bottle for storage.

This liquid is non toxic, use it on a rag to remove stains on brass/copper whitles (I clean my Sindt with it). Wipe dry. If you dislike the faint vinegar smell remaining, wash with soapy water before drying.
***
I've been using this method since then. It works great. And if you really want the brass to shine, use #0000 steel wool after.

One thing I do different is pour the prepared solution through a coffee filter.

Good luck.
Mike

[ecohawk]

"Castor oil", "non-toxic" both in the same sentence

Right. Ricin isn't harmful or anything. Is it?

Feadoggie

No but Ricin isn't good for polishing whistles at all.

ecohawk

[MTGuru]

I always thought castor oil was extracted by squeezing beavers. And yes, I mean the little dam-building animal, you perverts.

[eskin]

I use the "Cape Cod" polishing cloths on my brass whistles.

[Wanderer]

I always thought castor oil was extracted by squeezing beavers. And yes, I mean the little dam-building animal, you perverts.

You're thinking of artificial vanilla.

[ytliek]

Its always educational around here.

[DrPhill]

I always thought castor oil was extracted by squeezing beavers. And yes, I mean the little dam-building animal, you perverts.

Pollux. That's what I say.

[MTGuru]

I always thought castor oil was extracted by squeezing beavers. And yes, I mean the little dam-building animal, you perverts.

Pollux. That's what I say.