Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Preparations for Christmas continue......Polishing Brass!...I've added more pics!

It's Tuesday December 14th, 2010! Ten days until Christmas! I think I'll make it in time!!! LOL!
I fell last night after my hot bubbly tub (wet feet on the ceramic tiled kitchen floor!!) (I was on my way to dry by the fireside) I bashed my right knee, elbow and wrist into the floor. I am feeling banged up a bit, so I am not going to move furniture today!
I have a collection of antique and vintage brass that I have collected over the years. I have scored some fabulous pieces at yardsales and thrift stores. People get rid of it because they don't want to polish it. BUT!!!  I don't mind polishing it at all!! 
When I was a kid, a few weeks before Thanksgiving, Mom would clear the kitchen table and cover it with newspaper. Then she would bring out a bunch of soft rags and small saucers. She would pour small amounts of Silvo for the silver and Brasso for the brass and copper into the saucers. She and I and sometimes my brother, Bill, would then begin polishing her collection of brass and silver. It was a happy time, because we knew that our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables and table tops through out the house would be resplendant with bright shining accents!! We would break for tea and fresh cookies. Those times are sweet, warm memories to me!
So everytime I dig out my silver and brass polishing supplies, I am transported back to my childhood days.

I quickly took a few photos this morning to give you an idea of what I use and how I set up for this little task.
Like I said, I use "Silvo" for the silver and "Brasso" for the copper and brass.
It has been a few years since I have polished the brass so it is beginning to look kinda grunggy.
I have placed a large garbage bag on the top of the kitchen island then layered newspaper on top of that. I have shown the old metal can that Brasso used to come in and also the new plastic bottle that it now comes in in the picture below. I wear old crappy clothes, 'cuz I always get some gunk on my clothes. I also wear a work apron and rubber gloves (buy them at the dollar store, when the chemicals begin to kill the rubber, just throw them out and grab another pair). Music on the stereo is a must!!!  I am listening to Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits!
On the right you will see an English brass candle stick with a green candle in it. That is "before". On the left you will see the mate; it is covered with the polish. I used 0000 steel wool and a small wire brush to get into all the nooks and crannies.
*****WARNING!!!!*****
******DO NOT USE STEELWOOL OR A WIRE BRUSH ON YOUR SILVER!!!!!!******


When I have removed all the tarnish gunk, I then wash the item in hot soapy water. This removes the gunky polish.
Next I get a soft rag, old flannel peejayjays ( I love that word.....I think I made it up....I haven't seen nor heard anyone else use it!)  work best, but old tee-shirts and towels will work, too. I cut them into about ten inch square pieces. I use one rag to hold the item and another to do the polishing. Holding the item with a clean rag prevents regucking up the piece while you polish it.
Here is another candle stick in the "to-be-polished" lineup.
(As you can see in the background my kitchen is a total disaster area!!!  It will be tidied up AFTER I get the polishing done!!

Below on the left you will see the finished product.
It is sparkly and bright!!!

Gotta get back to polishing so I can take pics by Friday!!!


I have been busy, busy, busy polishing brass.
The candlesticks below with candles have been polished.
The ones without have not been polished.

 Del Shannon has been singing and I have been rockin'!!!

All polished and alight!



Gotta go and tidy the kitchen and make supper. Baked ham, baked yams
coleslaw and green beans!

Take care,



Love and hugs, Laura



6 comments:

  1. Wow, what a difference a little elbow grease makes. They do look beautiful. I have old tarnished silver I display and it drives my son crazy that I don't polish it. I actually prefer tarnished silver to polished... am I crazy? I love your buffet in the background of your picture.

    Sorry to hear about your fall and hope you are feeling ok. I bet tomorrow you will feel it more. Have fun polishing... I'm still painting :(

    Abundant Blessings, Valerie

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  2. Hi Laura: I do hope this comment finds you feeling not so banged up! Wet feet and tiles just don't go together and I don't want you to end up like my Pops has, over the holidays. Slow down and take care! Love all your silver and brass and your story and memories of polishing and cleaning when you were a child! This season is all about old memories and making new ones! xox

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  3. Thank you for your sweet comments on my tree. I'm just being lazy right now but thought I'd do the tree post. Ooooh, sugar, I love Del Shannon!
    xoxo,
    Connie

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  4. So sorry to hear you fell. Been there (the last time 5 yrs ago) and got the scars to prove it. I have used so much Theragesic that I actually hunted up the company that makes it to try to buy some of their stock and found out they are a private family owned company. I figured as much as I used (it really does work good) I could make some of my money back in dividends that I spent on it. LOL
    On the subject of polishing silver and brass, if you ever need to polish and don't have the name brand stuff try putting some plain ol baking SODA in a saucer and using a moist(pretty wet) wash cloth, patting the SODA til it makes a paste and rubbing the silver or copper or brass til you see the shine and rinsing with warm water. My grandmother didn't use anything else to polish her silver and other metals. It works great and is CHEAP !!!!
    Merry Christmas, don't work too hard and rest since you have fallen. Be careful
    PS Del Shannon is great and even better in person (I went to 1 concert).
    God Bless you.
    Mary

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  5. So sorry to hear about your fall. Take good care of yourself. Thanks for stopping by and for your kind comments. I have fond memories of my parents copper kettle from my English grandmother and all the polishing involved.

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  6. Ah Laura~
    The night I saw Del Shannon was at least 10 yrs ago and there was another group with him I think the Shondells (I'm not sure but they sang the "Get me to the chapel and we're gonna get married"??? I think. My old age is catching up with me. Anyway something about a chapel and getting married. A female group. The show was great, my sister-in-law drug me to it but I was glad I went. It brought back memories of some great music.

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