The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
First Aid For The Ailing Houses
To prevent polished brass or copper from tarnishing, all traces of polishing material should be removed by liberally wiping with benzene, and the article given a coat of clear lacquer especially made for this purpose. Spar varnish can also be used but may darken. It is so necessary to remove all traces of oil from the polished surface that the work should be done with gloves on to prevent even the touch of the bare fingers. The article coated should be at a temperature of not less than 70 degrees.
Polishes consist of abrasives, mixed with materials to form a paste or a liquid. For high polishes, the abrasives are jewelers' rouge, finely powdered chalk, rottenstone, or something similar. Any one of these can be mixed with petroleum jelly to make a thick paste; for a liquid polish, gasoline, naphtha or other solvent is added. Powdered oxalic acid can be included, in the proportion of 1 part to 6 of the abrasive.
Nickel-plated pipes of toilet fixtures that have become oxidized will have lost the plating. With the oxidizing cleaned off, they can be painted, the metal first being brightened and cleaned with sandpaper or steel wool and washed with benzene.
A better remedy is to have them replated, preferably with chromium, which is not expensive. In all centers there are plating companies, principally for automobile work; any garage will know their locations. The plating operation is rapid. By making arrangements beforehand, the parts can be taken out, plated, and returned within a few hours. Before the faucets and connecting pipes are unscrewed, the water must be shut off; and if an exposed section of the waste pipe is removed, the drain opening must be tightly plugged to prevent the entrance of sewer gas. Kits for "do-it-yourself chrome plating are available, and are well worth investigating if there are several plating projects waiting to be done around the house.
Stain from Copper Copper that is exposed to weather, such as gutters and leaders, flashings, window screens, hardware, etc., may cause greenish stains when water drips down from them on outside finishes. This is especially noticed on white paints. On a paint composed only of white lead the stains will wash off; on paint containing zinc the stain will be more permanent. Copper drip stains can sometimes be removed with ammonia or with a solution of 1/2 cup of trisodium phosphate in 1 quart of water. Both, however, are destructive to paint if allowed to remain in contact for any considerable period. They should be applied with a cloth, followed within a few seconds with plenty of water flushed on with a large sponge. If the stain is seen to become lighter, the process is repeated. Stains from copper can be prevented by painting or varnishing it. Copper that is new and bright retains grease from the manufacturing processes that prevents paint and varnish from holding.
