Refinishing/restoring bronze portlights
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- Deck Grunge Scrubber
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Mon Jun 12, 2006 3:11 pm
- Location: West Bay Nova Scotia
Refinishing/restoring bronze portlights
Hi, I am looking for some advise on the best (read easiest) method to restore the original bronze portlights on my Triton. I had heard that Muriatic acid was good for getting things started, but would love to hear from those of you that have sucessfully accomplished this laborious task to satisfactory results. Thanks, Scott #227
Have recently purchased Pearson Triton which I will be restoring over the coming months/years!
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- Wood Whisperer
- Posts: 649
- Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2005 7:42 pm
- Location: South coast of Texas, Matagorda Bay
Re: Refinishing/restoring bronze portlights
we use lemon juice
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- Skilled Systems Installer
- Posts: 177
- Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 10:54 am
- Boat Name: Nostalgia
- Boat Type: Pearson Triton Yawl
Re: Refinishing/restoring bronze portlights
I used muriatic acid to get rid of the chrome remnants. Then used a brass wires brush, followed by Wright's copper cream applied with a toothbrush. Also used a stainless wire wheel with fine bristles in a few places where the chrome was stubborn.
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- Deck Grunge Scrubber
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Mon Jun 12, 2006 3:11 pm
- Location: West Bay Nova Scotia
Re: Refinishing/restoring bronze portlights
thanks for the replies. the muriatic acid and steel wool seem to be getting things to a point of respectability !
Scott
Scott
Have recently purchased Pearson Triton which I will be restoring over the coming months/years!
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- Skilled Systems Installer
- Posts: 199
- Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 12:05 pm
- Boat Name: Guillemot
- Boat Type: Mariner Ketch
Re: Refinishing/restoring bronze portlights
Don't use steel wool - get brass wool. The steel wool will get stuck in crevices and cracks and cause rust stains. Don't ask me how I know.
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- Skilled Systems Installer
- Posts: 177
- Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 10:54 am
- Boat Name: Nostalgia
- Boat Type: Pearson Triton Yawl
Re: Refinishing/restoring bronze portlights
Some of the chrome can be too tightly adhered to be removed with brass wool or a brass brush. Like Paulus said, steel wools is bad because it can leave rust stains. Use a stainless wire brush for the difficult chrome. Muriatic acid should loosen it up enough that it will flake off. I also used a small file in a few places. If you do end up getting some rust stains, they can be easily removed with oxalic acid, which is sold at hardware stores (sometimes called wood bleach).
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- Rough Carpentry Apprentice
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:28 pm
- Boat Name: SV Christina Louise
- Boat Type: True North 34
- Location: Kingwood, TX
Re: Refinishing/restoring bronze portlights
I use Lime-Away first. Then I use a brass wire wheel. I finish using Prism Polish. I love the stuff. The shine is unbelievable.
David