Clean/finish bronze plaques

[wolften]

Hey all...
Hope this is the right place for this...
I have been charged to clean and refinish (clear coat) these bronze memorial plaques.
IMG_2648[1].jpg
I'm sure it's bronze, I tried the scratch test on the back and it is quite hard.
The plaques have/did have a clear coat so this needs to be removed as well.
So my questions to the collective are...
...my best way to clean off the old clear finish and associated gunk...
...a clear coat that will last more than a few years.

I'm not sure where these plaques will finish up, being exposed to the elements 24/7 or under cover, so I'd rather do a good job the first time.
Oh BTW there are 23 plaques to do and are 60mmx40mm.
I have an unopened jar of "White Knights Concrete Etcher", which is a citrus based cleaner.
How about Nappy San which is a oxalic acid based cleaner?
I have pool acid as well.

Most importantly, after all the hard cleaning work is done, A quality clear coat is required... suggestions?

Cheers

Glenn

[wolften]

Hi Glenn...
If you have a plaque that is completely bronze color then you have fewer steps. If it's lacquer coated you can use acetone or any other stripper to remove the lacquer (please note always be careful and follow instructions on how to handle any product), then you can clean the bronze with some oxalic acid which is a whitener or bleaching agent that will remove the patina that has occurred on the plaque. I usually mix the oxalic with some neutral soap as an additional cleaning agent. Rinse thoroughly with water and if needed you can use a white scotch pad for any stubborn marks as long as you go with the grain. Then lacquer.
Cheers

Glenn

[wolften]

Thanks for that nfo Glenn...
I just tried the vinegar/salt scrub and the baking soda/lemon scrub but it didn't really do too much. So I got out the 600 grit wetndry paper, that sure shifted the crap off the little plaque.
It also filed down my finger nails and removed most of my finger prints. Such a pain to hold such a little item to sand.
I came back inside from the shed to put some band aids on my bleeding fingers and thought... why not cut up some 600 to put on my Festool 150/3 and sand the mofo that way
I still have that problem of holding the plaque, so I thought about putting some blue tac on the back to hold it. I didn't have any, so I'm off down the road to get a few packets of chewing gum.
I'll let you know how this turns out.
Just had a thought, when the lil woman sees my fingers she's going to want to peroxide them to kill the germs so I'll pick up some MJ gloves while I'm down there.\
Cheers

Glenn

[BamBam53]

Hi Glenn,

For your lacquer finish try and get some Wattyl Incralac. It is designed for use on brass, bronze, copper etc.

Michael

[wolften]

...cheers for that nfo BB, I hope it's UV resistant, I'll check it out.

...Sorry Glenn have been busy with life and back probs.

What I have found out is to use good ol' paint stripper.
Dip the bronze plaques in the PS for a couple of hours, bit of a scrub and wash off and maybe hit it with the green scotch brite pad.

As you know these plaques/most plaques are chemically etched so the etched areas will have no colour in it. Some like it without colour so check with the client first.

Then, As Bam Bam said use a good UV resistant clear over both sides.
Hey stupid, don't forget to wear proper hand and lung protection when using the PS and clear, or my back problems wont be the only problems you'll have.
Cheers Bro
ps.. you got a good lookin missus