Last month in this column, we restored an abandoned wood desk to its original glory with some sandpaper, a couple of stain pens and a putty knife. It looked great and was a lot of fun to do, so this month I thought we might try refurbishing the various metals you’ll find around your home. When I searched eBay for a “rusty tool” to use as a model, the lowest-priced item turned out to be a bunion reliever from 1891, and the matter was settled. (Alas, it’s not as gross as it sounds, though it is a conversation starter.)
I’ve been fascinated by metal since I was a kid. My mother would let me use Brasso to polish pennies and, for holidays, her silver place settings; there’s something magical about making a dull thing gleam in your hands. These days I appreciate metal’s resilience and utility more than its beauty, and I love turning a yard-sale find into a useful tool.
Today, let’s work on restoring four common metals: steel, brass, silver and aluminum. We’ll get the rust off the steel bunion reliever and make a pair of neglected C-clamps usable again. We’ll strip multiple layers of paint off door hinges without damaging their brass plating. A badly tarnished silver-plated sugar bowl (eBay again; 1889) will get a gentle polish. And my 25-year-old aluminum moka pot will get a new brushed finish.
Most of these techniques can be used on a variety of metals, and I hope they’ll help you revitalize all manner of objects. (The exception is silver, solid or plated, which really does require a delicate hand and a very mild polish.) The methods I chose are low-cost, require no special equipment or experience, and are safer than many alternatives.
The Tools
