how to polish brass?

[LucianGalenus]

how to you polish brass thats been sanded with sand paper i need help please thanks

[Maeryk]

Finer sandpaper, and then finer abrasives (I believe scitchbrite has brass application pads) and then even finer buffing compounds.

[CT03]

polishing compounds such as rouge etc... buffing wheels.

[Maeryk]

Basically, you work up through grits at steps just small enough to remove the hills left by previous grits. I go up to 3500 just on wood, then use tripoli, or cut and polish, or auto compound to gloss the finish.

[Gypsy]

toothpaste

[Sigismund von Helfenstein]

What Maeryk said.

That and elbow grease.

[Ironbadger]

You can actually use a small mount of buffing compound and an old sock or a piece of wool cloth to get a not quite mirror finish on brass.
I've done it a few times, when my grinder was dead or packed away.

Takes forever, but for small things like a belt buckle, it does work.

-Badger-

[CT03]

and for that final glow... brasso or m-nu... and kiwi that smell still brings back memories

[LucianGalenus]

thanks all

[Randy Bobbyson]

As a Sailor I've polished alot of brass in my time. The best compound I have found is flitz. just remember a little goes a long way.

http://www.flitz.com/

[rhino2104]

It depends on the sand paper used. If it was sanded with a rough grit such as an 80 or 120 then you will need to sand with progressively finer sand paper till you can polish it. Of it was sanded with a fine grit (I'd say 600+) then you might be able to use an automotive rubbing compound followed by a polishing compound.

[Ranif]

and for that final glow... brasso or m-nu... and kiwi that smell still brings back memories

Chris
Olfactory flashback! Kiwi white shoe cleaner on dress caps, gaiters & webbing. Brasso on...well, brassy bits.
Ranif

[Gurahl]

I second Flitz.

[bigfredb]

Newspaper and toothpaste

OR

newspaper and brasso

[Gurahl]

Brasso and the first Private you can yell at....

[Sevastian]

Third for Flitz. Fine wet/dry sandpaper then use the Flitz. If you still see scratches go to a finer grit sandpaper and repeat.

[Thomas MacFinn]

I wonder if there is a market for period items in anodized brass? I remember I fell in love with that stuff and replaced as much brass as I could before I was even out of boot camp.