whats the best way to clean old headbadge

[tin machine]

I have a really cool shelby flying cloud ..headbadge has a tall ship on it ..needs some cleaning up to make it pop again ..whats the best way to clean an old head badge and put some luster back in it ..thanks in advance

[udallcustombikes]

If you want the brass to shine again hit it with some brasso or similiar metal polish and a soft cloth or if you have a buffing wheel use that, but be careful not to wear the brass down. If you want to repaint the graphics I have used my wife's nail polish. It is durible, dries quick, and you have limitless colors.

This is a new Jones&Sons badge that I painted with nail polish

[tin machine]

thats nice I do think this head badge had some color to it ,thanks for the tip never thought of that ..tin man

If you want the brass to shine again hit it with some brasso or similiar metal polish and a soft cloth or if you have a buffing wheel use that, but be careful not to wear the brass down. If you want to repaint the graphics I have used my wife's nail polish. It is durible, dries quick, and you have limitless colors.

This is a new Jones&Sons badge that I painted with nail polish

[SimpleMan]

I kind of like to leave a little patina. I used Mother's mag polish (just what I had) on a cotton cloth and polished by hand till I got the look I wanted.

[tin machine]

wow those look really good!!! maybe I will try that ...thanks

[SimpleMan]

wow those look really good!!! maybe I will try that ...thanks

Thats about a minutes work on each. Just rubbed lightly across the top to hit the highlights. They look great in person.

[Dboy9887]

I like that old patina look, its good enough to see the head badge instead of having it super shiny. Starting that on my HB as well.

[gcrank1]

IMHO, always start with the least harsh, and gentlest cleaning medium; ie, soapy water and a soft cloth, then slowly and carefully escalate the scrub, the rub, and/or the medium 'up the scale'. I like to use my 3X loupe to really see what Im doing anymore, too (WOW, I can SEE again!!). Usually I stay away from the power equipment. I love the headbadges, as most here probably do, and dont want to be the one who wrecks one after all these years.

[sloar]

i'm another one that left a little of the pantina look, used some brasso and cleaned until i liked the look.

[Dboy9887]

Just picked up some brasso and did the same as well! check here

Before


After

[sloar]

that liberty badge looks awesome, nice job.

[Dboy9887]

i'm another one that left a little of the pantina look, used some brasso and cleaned until i liked the look.

awesome bike, What kind is it?

[Dboy9887]

I realized that when i took the Headbadge off i had a screw stuck in the frame how would i be able to take that out? i was thinkin a lil hammer and punch...

[sloar]

dboy its a 36 schwinn. trying to sell it locally here in indiana

[axsepul]

All the ideas mentioned sound good. I've used soapy water with a wool pad, paint remover (spray type) with wool pad and to get them real clean I've used muriatic acid then a wool pad. I guess what you do after it has been clean is what's really important. I use rattle can clear coat to preserve that acquired look. Every time you clean it, it gets thinner so with the clear coat I don't have to worry about cleaning it again in a long time.