Posted by Rick Denney on November 29, 2001 at 17:35:54:
In Reply to: Cleaning that monster hunk of brash posted by Brandon Ostrom on November 29, 2001 at 16:29:16:
For a home cleaner, vinegar probably works better than just about anything for the inside of the horn. You'd need to take it in to a shop for an official chem clean to do better. Just pour a gallon into the bell, and rotate it around until it all comes spilling out the leadpipe. Then let it sit in the narrow tubes for a while. Vinegar is a very mild acid, and will dissolve much of the calcium and lime deposits in the horn, but it isn't strong enough to do damage.
Rinse with lots and lots of water to remove the smell.
For the outside, if it's silver, then use a non-abrasive metal polish like Mr. Metal or Wenol (Wenol is my favorite--it works equally well on silver and brass). If it's lacquered brass, use soap and water, and polish with Lemon Pledge. If it's raw brass, it's hard to do better than a dull sheen (use Wenol), without some quality time with a buffing wheel.
Rick "who doesn't mind brown brass but prefers that it not be green" Denney