Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware

 
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Old 09-14-2008, 10:37 PM   #1
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Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


Does anyone have any homemade concoctions to do this? I am trying to restore a door and the hinges have gotten quite tarnished over the last century!!

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Old 09-14-2008, 10:55 PM   #2
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


Check out Vandykes restorers, they have a web site.
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Old 09-15-2008, 11:36 AM   #3
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


thanks warner,

Interesting--I am less than 1/2 hour away from you, over in the Buckeye state!!
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Old 09-15-2008, 07:29 PM   #4
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


soak them in vinegar water. the acid will dissolve the oxidation. you can also try adding a bit of salt to the mix.
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Old 09-15-2008, 08:46 PM   #5
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


Where at Buckeye?

1/2 hour puts you in edgerton, hicksville along that line north and south huh?
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Old 09-15-2008, 08:48 PM   #6
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


The only help I can offer for an at home solution involves removing paint and such, Get a big crock pot (dont use the good one from the kitchen either, trust me) put some water in it and low simmer those painted up hinges, door knobs, etc. Works like a champ!
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Old 09-15-2008, 08:51 PM   #7
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


Dip them in boiling vinegar. Stinks up the house, but works really good.
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Old 09-15-2008, 09:30 PM   #8
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


Quote:
Originally Posted by buckeyeso2 View Post
Does anyone have any homemade concoctions to do this? I am trying to restore a door and the hinges have gotten quite tarnished over the last century!!
Are you trying to remove paint or just polishing up?
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Old 09-15-2008, 09:36 PM   #9
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


This stuff works quite well!!!!



Although not a "concoction".

Drano strips ANY metal. If you ever need to un-anodize aluminum, Drano, NaOH, is the ticket!
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Old 01-15-2010, 09:39 PM   #10
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


Aluminum does an excellent job removing tarnish on silver, copper, steel.
(tarnish=rust=oxidation)
Take some aluminum foil and either rub the hardware, or better yet wrap the hardware in foil, toss it in a pot, cover with water and heat. Don't boil, just heat.

Ketchup actually works too... I have no idea why, but it seems to work really well on copper.
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Old 02-24-2010, 09:14 PM   #11
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


Quote:
Originally Posted by Dfeerst View Post
Aluminum does an excellent job removing tarnish on silver, copper, steel.
(tarnish=rust=oxidation)
Take some aluminum foil and either rub the hardware, or better yet wrap the hardware in foil, toss it in a pot, cover with water and heat. Don't boil, just heat.

Ketchup actually works too... I have no idea why, but it seems to work really well on copper.
These are good tips!
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Old 02-27-2010, 09:30 PM   #12
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


Thanks
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Old 02-27-2010, 09:39 PM   #13
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


Quote:
Originally Posted by buckeyeso2 View Post
Does anyone have any homemade concoctions to do this? I am trying to restore a door and the hinges have gotten quite tarnished over the last century!!
How about just restoring the door and leave the patina on the hinges and hardware the way it is?
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Old 02-27-2010, 11:25 PM   #14
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Re: Restoring Tarnished Door Hardware


Wow, old thread,, for what it's worth,,Electrolysis - but you have to make sure it is not plated,,,
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