August 23, 2013

A Tale of Brass and Ketchup

I'm not dead yet!  While I've got quite a bit to catch up on, I figured I'd do up a quick and dirty post on one tiny thing I actually accomplished this week.  And since I don't have the time to write a bunch of words, you get a PHOTO STORY!


This machine is in terrible shape.  But look at that cool round access plate in back!


Let's take it off!


Well shit, that looks pretty nasty and beat up.


Hmmm... all I have on hand is some chrome polish; let's see if that does anything.


Nope.

Hey, this is probably steel plated with brass, yeah?  That's probably rust that got to the steel through the worn off brass, right?  Let's drown it in Evapo-Rust!


Huh, still there.  Soooo, not rust then?


Wait, if a magnet won't stick to it, it must be solid brass!  That's not rust, it's tarnish and verdigris!  We need KETCHUP!


Well that helped somewhat, but looks like there's just too much damage for ketchup to handle on it's own. 


Time to bring out the big guns.   Go, hot vinegar, go!


Excellent; now all we need is a little elbow grease!  HAHA, forget elbow grease, we have a DREMEL and POLISHING TOOLS!


Well wouldja look at that!



WHADDA YA MEAN WE STILL GOTTA CLEAN THE REST OF THE MACHINE?