Major Screw Up - Antique Fire Extinguisher

[Concordia...41]

OK, let's say one of us :o came across a really cool 1950's fire extinguisher and (after paying top dollar for it) wrapped it in plastic until SARAH's interior was finished. :(

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db32b3127ccec44f3578606e00000056108BYtG7lsxbg9 vPhA

Thankfully I didn't wrap it very good, because every place the plastic pressed to the metal, I guess it held moisture and started corrosion?

The discoloration is very pink and feels slightly raised.

The back (pictured above) is the worst, but the front is a mess too.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db32b3127ccec44f52aaa12700000056108BYtG7lsxbg9 vPhA

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db32b3127ccec44fd7b2e1e500000056108BYtG7lsxbg9 vPhA

If left to my own devices, I'd probably start by cleaning with a toothbrush and a mild abrasive like baking soda. But since I've managed to screw this up so royally, and since I don't even know if it's brass or what, I thought I'd ask for a little help and advice from my friends. :)

So what say you all?

[The Bigfella]

Can't help with the solution there Ma'am - but I'm interested to hear. I've got one that looks the same, but its plated and a bit corroded, so I'm interested to hear. Incidentally, I regard mine as decorative rather than a front line defence.

[Concordia...41]

It is definitely for decorative purposes only. And I will probably have a little placard to that effect.

It's just so cool and by wrapping it in bubble wrap, I so screwed it up. :(

[Canoez]

I'd talk to someone at an electroplating house. They might be able to strip and re-plate it. You'd want to mask labels and other details.

[BrianM]

That looks like Zinc Chromate electroplated steel? Hard to see without zooming in on the corroded areas. Do you know it is brass/bronze/copper alloy? or just guessing?

Either way:
If you have pits, you either have to have it iteratively plated and sanded 'til the pits are filled (like old hot-rod bumpers that are being rechromed), or sand/grind down the surrounding metal to "erase" the "hole", then replate.

Same deal if its brass/copper/bronze alloy. Platers can put back almost any metal. Really fancy method is a Plasma Spray setup where the metal is literally "sprayed" back on the surface in a molten state. Once again, sand/machine down excess to original dimensions.

Polishes/buffing only removes material. If you don't mind, that might be the most appropriate avenue.

[pcford]

Probably best just to buy another. These things go at a reasonable price on Ebay.

Somewhere out there is a company that sells them for boats. (Nonworking) and kinda expensive.

This is a company that mostly sells on Ebay.

http://www.historicalfirefighting.com/Firefighting-collectibles/Extinguishers

[westinghouse]

I'd talk to someone at an electroplating house. They might be able to strip and re-plate it. You'd want to mask labels and other details.

Seconded. Those guys can work magic, and for an item that size, it's going to be about $80 (good value if you love the thing and can't find another - pcford might have something to say on that note).

Now, Canoez - about your avatar comment...that's beens my sig for a few years now and I won't change it. If we just have to share, I can deal with that.

[Bill R]

I would second (third?) the electroplating shop. A good shop can work magic.

[Tylerdurden]

Check with the local car clubs. Electro platers will cost and arm and a leg and I will bet someone local will be able to help you. The antique guys are full of options. Bring it to a get together and I am sure those farts will be falling all over you to help:D

The other option is to check out powdercoating as if it corrodes now, chances are it will on board.

[oakman]

Or you could just lightly steel wool and call it patina.

oak

[Canoez]

Now, Canoez - about your avatar comment...that's beens my sig for a few years now and I won't change it. If we just have to share, I can deal with that.

Geez, Westinghouse, if you ever meet me you'd know why that's my quote! :cool:

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db32b3127ccec44f3578606e00000056108BYtG7lsxbg9 vPhA

Thankfully I didn't wrap it very good,

.....

So what say you all?

Looks very like soft soldered brass to me - the pink/red is the copper component, the zinc having been leached from the surface layers...

This is typical of weak acid corrosion on brass the good news is that a mild abrasive (Brasso) and some elbow grease soon removes the excess copper - the bad news is that it also removes the "patina".

If you want the patina replaced and the finish back to 100% - seek out a specialist on old trumpets or saxophones.

The ABSOLUTE NO-NO is steel wool.

[westinghouse]

Geez, Westinghouse, if you ever meet me you'd know why that's my quote! :cool:

Hyuk - same here. Sharesies it is.

(Sorry for the highjack, op)


edited to add - changed my sig.

[Bob Cleek]

Yea, put a buffing wheel to it and it should polish up nicely if it is brass. If not, there's really no point in keeping it. Just a note... It looks like it might be one of the old chemical extinguishers. Have an extinguisher service shop check it for you. You should have if emptied if you are using it for decorative purposes. (Surely, it's not reliable as a fire extinguisher until recertified, anyhow.) These old chemical extinguishers often contained carbon tetrachloride (liquid) as the extinguishing material. It displaces oxygen, thereby suppressing the fire, but carbon-tet is nasty stuff, especially in an enclosed space. You don't want to inhale its fumes and it evaporates instantaneously in the open air creating a nasty gas.

[Iceboy]

try some Nev-r-dull.

[Lew Barrett]

Put it to the buffing wheel. Take it through the "grits" starting with a cleaning compound and working to second polish. Wear a good mask and some gloves.
It will shine as well as it is capable, and the brass "patina" will return on a boat before you can turn around three times and say "we're not in Kansas anymore."

You will enjoy polishing it, I guarantee.

"Polishing Brass and bronze a specialty.
One Day Service....Saturdays."

If it's not solid brass, toss it and chalk it up to experience.

[Concordia...41]

Thanks all. I'll try light cleaning / polishing and report back to the class.

For those interested, The Rest of the Story:

Six or seven years ago, I was out in Oregon with my dear Aunt Jean, who some of the west coasters got to meet at the Port Townsend show.

At any rate, Aunt Jean and I share the "shopping gene" and we were having quite a time in boutiques and antique shops around Portland and up the Columbia River.

I saw the fire extinguisher in a shop on the south side of the river but passed on it. It wasn't hugely expensive (in boat terms), the tag says $49.00, but for some reason I hesitated. As we drove west and crossed the river, the fire extinguisher stayed in my mind as the perfect piece for SARAH's salon, and we crossed back over and made our way back to the shop.

For those of you not familiar with the Colombia River, this ain't downtown Miami with bridges every block. It was a big deal to drive until we found a bridge, cross the river and double back.

That evening as I was talking to my poor, long-suffering, but good-natured husband, the conversation went something like this:

Me, "Hi honey, how was your day? yada yada yada"

Dave, "Fine. How are you and Aunt Jean making out? yada yada yada"

More yadas

Me, "Honey, what is carbon tetrachloride?"

Dave, "WHAT DID YOU BUY???"

Me (innocently), "Baby, I just asked a question."

Dave, "WHAT DID YOU BUY????"

Me (beginning to be indignant), "I don't know why you get like this."

Dave, "WHAT DID YOU BUY!"

Me (finally fessing up, but attempting to put a good spin on it), "It's this really cool fire extinguisher with a 1950's inspection tag and it'll look great in the salon..."

I'll save you Dave's comments at that point, but it is safe to say that I got a lecture about carbon tetrachloride, a warning not to get it on me, the advice that it is a good stain remover - when it's not causing cancer, and an instruction to package it carefully, take it to a local pack and ship, admit no knowledge as to the contents, but ship it UPS ground. :D

Soooooo after all that, I'm really hopeful that I can clean it up. It really would be a shame if I screwed it up. :(

[Mrleft8]

It'll release free radicals. Just imagine having tens of thousands of little Abbey Hoffmans and Malcolm Xs running around in the salon.... :D

[nedL]

Margo, As Cleek said, that is a carbon tetrachloride fire extingisher (EPA calls it nasty stuff now, so be sure to empty it out). Carbon-tet is a good solvent, like carburetor cleaner, just nastier. I'll bet 90+% it is brass, just put a magnet to it to check, if it doesn't stick its brass, lacquered too. Strip the lacquer off to make it easy to polish, then spray with a clear finish like Krylon & in a year it will look like nothing ever happened to it (after it has aged a bit). If you don't want to wait, just PM me, I have a slightly older version in nice condition (w/ bracket) that needs a home & would look good on Sarah & I would be glad to send it to you. :)

[Mrleft8]

I have a potted fern in a hanging basket that would look good in the salon.... And a porcelain circus horse lamp with a balloon shaped shade.... :D ;)

[soba]

You know, that looks a lot like a lacquer coated brass. I'll bet the plastic trapped some moisture, or perhaps a chemical on the plastic attacked the lacquer. Anyhoo, looks like the scabrous lesions I found on a plastic wrapped vintage trombone. I took it to a pro, and he polished it and then had it re-lacquered. Cost me $30 (CAN)

just an idea....

[Bob Cleek]

Come to think of it... if you polished that fire extinguisher up really well and cleaned it out inside, AND if you can figure out a way to unscrew the top, etc... it WOULD make a pretty neat martini shaker!

[Mrleft8]

Come to think of it... if you polished that fire extinguisher up really well and cleaned it out inside, AND if you can figure out a way to unscrew the top, etc... it WOULD make a pretty neat martini shaker!

Or an excellent seltzer bottle! :D