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08-16-2010, 08:39 PM
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Club Chopper Member
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Richmond,
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Bike Year, Make, Engine: 1996 Springer Low Rider.
Posts: 276
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Protecting brass.
There was a thread in the all chopper section about adding brass to your bike and I have since lost my mind with the brass accents. I had been adding brass washers every here and there, but this week I spent like 30 bucks on every brass washer and nut that Lowe's had in stock. It started with a brass headlight visor from ebay, then my front fender, license plate, dash, and every other place I could stick a non load bearing nut got a brass acorn. Everywhere else got brass washers. The bikes black with purple pinstripes and has a good bit of chrome, so I'm liking how it looks. So my question is, what if anything can I do to protect it? Do you wax the stuff, polish the stuff or just buy a handful of acorns and replace them every Spring? How long does brass last, stay shiny or retain it's brass colored hue? Just wondering what to do.
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08-16-2010, 11:11 PM
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Club Chopper Member
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UNITED KINGDOM,
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Bike Year, Make, Engine: 2005 home built softail, 95ci
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I think polishing brass is the best way to keep the looks, laquer may work on some larger parts but not washers, when it chips off it looks shit, getting the rag out now and then is best.  |
08-17-2010, 01:52 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hudson Valley,
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Bike Year, Make, Engine: 47 Knuk,34 frame, 45 front end
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I think that highly polished brass that slowly tarnishes to a buttery yellow looks better than that bright gold. No laquer.
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When you play, play hard; when you work, don't play at all.
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The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who would do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. Albert Einstein
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08-17-2010, 01:57 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: rockland,
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polish it and then use car wax on it to seal the surface and it will take longer to tarnish. i've done it with copper
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08-17-2010, 02:49 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: fenwick,
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ether polished or even tarnished brass looks good. i have used a product called ever clear, it looks like a phony walmart brass bed ...
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08-17-2010, 06:02 AM
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Chronic Master Bolter
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Suffolk,
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Bike Year, Make, Engine: 03 BMC w/ S&S 124; 75 Honda chop
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check out markee's bike. he powdercoated clear over most of his brass, including fender strap, risers, etc.
as far as i know it's still holding up well.
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pain or damage don't end the world. or despair, or fucking beatings. the world ends when you're dead. until then, you got more punishment in store. stand it like a man... and give some back.
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08-17-2010, 07:05 AM
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Club Chopper Member
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Richmond,
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Bike Year, Make, Engine: 1996 Springer Low Rider.
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Thanks for the tips. I just went out and waxed the visor and front fender acorns with plain old Maguire's wax. I was amazed that the rag turned pitch black in a few seconds. I guess it doesn't take long for brass to start to turn. I couldn't even tell till I looked at the rag. That was funny. I know its going to patina, and thats fine too. Both looks should blend with the bike. Just wanting to keep the shiny for a while....at first.
Also, does anyone know where to get the brass stabilizer for the top of the springs??? I have found a few but they are all 3.25 center to center. My Paughco is 2.75 (2 3/4) center to center and I have found nothing.
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Last edited by Blackconvt; 08-17-2010 at 07:16 AM..
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08-17-2010, 09:59 AM
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Club Chopper Member
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kansas City,
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Bike Year, Make, Engine: Customs
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Nev-r-Dull
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08-17-2010, 10:46 AM
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CC Member/Contributor
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: TEXAS,
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Bike Year, Make, Engine: 113" Softail
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Is Nev-r-Dull just a polish or does it have some sort of protective quality???
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I can resist everything except temptation.
The clock of life is wound once, no man can tell when it will stop, at late or early hr. Now is the only time U own. Live, love, toil at will. Place no faith in time, 4 the clock may soon be still.
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08-17-2010, 10:48 AM
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It's a cleaner.
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08-17-2010, 10:59 AM
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Club Chopper Member
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Join Date: Jan 2005
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OK, time to rethink. I just grabbed my mothers aluminum polish and a rag. I buffed up my acorn nuts on my license plate. Not liking the shiny brass look as much as I thought. A little patina really does have a nice look. I may have been over thinking this. Kinda what thumper was eluding to. I think the visor really looks good polished though.
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08-17-2010, 12:42 PM
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CC Member/Contributor
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: TEXAS,
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I like it...
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I can resist everything except temptation.
The clock of life is wound once, no man can tell when it will stop, at late or early hr. Now is the only time U own. Live, love, toil at will. Place no faith in time, 4 the clock may soon be still.
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09-08-2010, 04:58 AM
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Lurker/Contributor
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Currently Iraq,
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I gotta add that if you do continue to polish your visor or anything else to try a product called Brasso. It can be found a walmart real cheap and has a extremely fine abrasive in it that will take out minor scratches and swirls to bring out the best shine. When you polish brass the rag will turn black, I don't remember why but it does. The more you polish it the lighter it will get till it turns almost silver but it takes a terribly long time.
Me personally, I would polish the pieces you wanna keep looking good every so often even if you are going for the tarnished look, just to keep it really smooth.
The only reason I know about this is the Army, we use brasso for a few this including our Dress Uniform, they have been using Brasso to shine up brass buckles for decades. The other massively important piece of brass to be polished is the shell casings presented to the family members of fallen service members after a twenty-one gun salute during funeral ceremonies. I have served during countless funeral services and one of our duties was to polish the shell casings to be used.
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09-08-2010, 05:16 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Levittown,
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Bike Year, Make, Engine: VTX1800 Trike, building Covington trike
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09-08-2010, 05:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iron Stickz
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Yep. Lasts about 2-3 years. |
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