Cleaning copper tacks?

[tombear]

Recently I picked up a very old tin of copper tacks on a car boot. To be honest they look hand made, no two are alike. Anyroad, I am thinking of using them for decoration and before I start polishing them up (some are still shiny, others have gone green) is there a chemical way of getting the oxide off them?

I vaguely remember being told soaking in "Wonder Wheels" cleans brass better than brown sauce or vinegar.

Thanks

Tom

 

[Jay.in.the.woods]

give them a coating of flux that plumbers use to clean up copper pipe and joints before soldering them together. coat them leave for about 2 mins before you give them a rub with wirewool.

 

[rik_uk3]

Citric acid solution or vinegar, but not too long then a polish with brasso.

 

[Chinkapin]

If you want to use them on anything antiquish, you may not want to clean them up at all.

 

[Ben Trout]

Dunk for a few minutes in Coka Cola.

 

[Toddy]

Another vote for the coca cola works on brass quite nicely too Try a manky 2p piece first and you'll see what we mean.

cheers,
Toddy