Cleaning brass

[midgeman]

Has anyone had any experience with blasting brass parts? I have a carburettor and some other small parts that I'd like to clean up, dirty/oily and hard to do by hand being so fiddly, as much as I'v tried you can't get it nice and evenly clean (80 years of dirt build up in all the corners..)

I had an aluminium steering box cover for a VW once that I bought to replace a damaged one, it looked like new, beautiful smooth finish to the ali, I think it was done with glass bead, peened(?) finish rather than matt/coarse like grit or even soda blasting can leave and it wasn't polished after just a natural finish.
I was thinking of doing the same with the brass carb. Obviously I don't want a rough surface left and it's not the sort of thing that can be polished either, just needs to be factory fresh look.

I have a tank type blaster and a hand held 'spray gun' type that I'll probably use for this.
Any help would be much appreciated or alternative cleaning methods that can be done at home without sending it off.
Thanks

[v8250]

Midgeman, try soaking overnight in either coca-cola, and/or, natural white vinegar before using an abrasive medium. Baking soda on a low pressure can be brilliant once the main crud and grease is off.

[RichB]

Not got an answer but 80 years suggests it's a circa 1935 car. Out of interest what is it?

[midgeman]

Not a car but a tractor..
1928 John Deere D, large brass Marvel carb plus fuel fittings and water injection valve, hence not wanting a high polished finish but clean factory look.

Most of the dirt is cleaned off its just in the corners you cant get to and around linkage parts. The brass is dull from age too. I will have to get a picture of it but it looks a lot like the condition of this one. Cleaning with a little spark plug brush just doesn't do enough or get everywhere.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/John-Deere-DLTX-3-Brass-Sc...

Edited by midgeman on Sunday 11th May 21:36

[exkay]

Try vapour blasting, i`ve used it on alloy bits from my cars, no chemicals, just high pressure water, very sucessfull for me.

[Poison Tom 96]

Another vote for Coke, it's powerful stuff.

[hidetheelephants]

Ultrasonic cleaning, or even one of the pseudo-ultrasonic methods that are on youtube, could be worth a try, they'll certainly be better for fettling crap out of the interior passages than blasting.

[midgeman]

Can anyone recommend a good ultrasonic cleaner? I would say 'budget' one but I'm guessing it would need to be a big-ish one rather than one of these £30 jewellery types, although not a £400 pro one either.
I think Maplin and Frost's sell them for around £100 but has anyone actually got or tried/used one. Like anything you probably get what you pay for.

[Phud]

Midgeman, find your nearest dive store, they will have one if thet service regulators.

Most will let you blast in their ultrasonic bath, might cost a few quid

[RichB]

Phud said:

Midgeman, find your nearest dive store, they will have one if thet service regulators. Most will let you blast in their ultrasonic bath, might cost a few quid

Midgeman, my bro-in-law runs a regulator and bottle service operation in Portland Bill if that's any use? Shorebase Servicing Ltd