Place a magnet on it.
How to lacquer plated brass door handle.
Unlacquered not comparable items will tarnish over time while lacquered items won t.
Magnets will not stick to brass so try that first.
Solid brass is much tougher and can withstand stronger chemicals when stripping off the lacquer.
After you polish the brass you will want to protect it by applying a protective coating to the surface.
If the magnet sticks your metal is not brass and you might have to do a bit of investigating to figure out what it is.
If you want to do it yourself i would recommend a nitro cellulose based lacquer for door handles and other items that will be handled frequently.
If it attracts the magnet the piece is metal with a thin brass coating.
If you see yellow underneath it s probably solid brass if not treat the object delicately as it is only brass plated.
Unlike the case with copper pots where you might want to remove this lacquer coating it s best to leave it on your.
Or you may have brass plating over a ferrous metal.
When you ve achieved a high gleam on your brass you can take the steps to apply the lacquer.
Brass brings a warm burnished glow to household items everything from switch plates and door knockers to bathroom fixtures furniture and even kitchen utensils.
Plated brass however is easier to damage and scratch so it needs a more delicate touch.
Use a magnet to check whether an item is solid or plated brass.
If it doesn t stick it s brass.
You can use a paint on lacquer which can be applied with a paint brush but a polyurethane lacquer will last longer and can usually be found in a spray can format which is optimal for easy application.
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Brass plated objects often have a thin coating of lacquer to help protect the brass.
Anything else will remove the lacquer.
Most brass you ll find in use in your home these days is covered with a lacquer coating.
Apply 3 or 4 coats of lacquer to the item allowing the lacquer to dry completely between coats.
If the brass plated item is lacquer coated you should stick to soap and water when cleaning it.
Try using a high gloss urethane or uv resistant clear lacquer to the brass object.
Plated brass is more delicate than solid brass so before you clean or lacquer your item you need to figure out which it is.
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