Shining up Brass Port Holes

K

kimshack

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C Dory Year
2006
C Dory Model
R-21 EC Tug
Vessel Name
KIMSHACK
I do love those shiny port holes in my Ranger, but it's alot of elbow grease to keep them that way. :x I've been using Flitz, and another brand, but after a while, my fingers get numb, it's gotten so that I can barely type this post. I've even gone with the rustic tarnished look for a while.

Has anyone used Tarn-x? Will tarn-x damage the gel coat?

Any ideas would be welcomed
 
Noxon is the best thing ever for brass and bronze. Shannon Boat Company put us on to it when we bought our sailboat back in 1980.

We also used it to polish the brass beer towers in our restaurant. The stuff is simply amazing. Wipe it on with paper towels then wipe it off. For badly discolored brass or bronze, you might have to use a couple of applications but it doesn't require the hard scrubbing of all the other stuff. You won't believe the results.

I've found it in grocery stores and hardware stores.

Jim
 
Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author
 
Jim.....I bought a bottle of Noxon today based on your recommendation, I tried it and I want you to know it's as good as you said, maybe better. The port holes on my R21 had gotten pretty dark in the couple of months I've had her and I wasn't looking forward to the effort I thought I was going to have to put forth to shine them again. But that Noxon works magic, I found it at a True Value hardware store for $4.99. Thanks for the advice!
Dave
 
Just picked up a bottle, best $4.99 I've spent. Stuff works like a dream.
 
Never Dull was the product of choice while I was in the Corps. It required frequent use but it was fairly effortless.

Karl
 
When my son in law, who recently finished his tour as a Navy officer, learned that I had ordered my Ranger 21, he wanted to see pictures of it. Noticing the brass ports, he brought me a can of Never-Dull and said that was used on all of the ships he was assigned to. I have not tried it yet, but put a lot of stock in his opinions.
 
:cry
I don't know why, inside polished up nicely with Noxon but out side was really bad, actually turning green and I have gone over and over, About wore my fingers out. I am going to try power buffing.
Captd
 
Ahh, the joys of a salt water environment.

The problem is that the exterior of the portholes has become badly corroded from salt. You don't need to rub hard, just often. Keep applying the Noxon and you will eventually get back to shiny. The green stuff is the corrosion coming off.

If memory serves, it took us many applications and several rolls of paper towels to get the ports shiny again after going from the ocean into fresh water.

If you want to keep your portholes looking new, you will need to treat them regularly. Lots of people just decide that the greenish hue looks pretty good, especially since keeping it off takes away from valuable time that could be spent doing more important things. Like drinking beer.

Jim
 
Mine were pretty green as well, but ended up looking great after a few applications. I ended up using a soft tootbrush to save my finger tips.
 
West Marine Miracle Cloth was rated #1 for REALLY cleaning bronze portholes by Practical Sailor magazine. It works, but will rub your finger to a nub. In a salt water environment the shine would start to oxidize between 12 and 48 hours. Now I use Everbrite to keep the shine. It is not easy to apply, but when done properly is does stop the discoloration and so far has lasted 3 weeks. It takes some trial and error to get acceptable, but I was ready to try anything short of lacquer, which is difficult to remove when you need to.
 
IF we had one of your very cool tugs I would let the brass develop a nice patina. It looks very salty!

Don
 
Just wanted to share: We got our new R-25 this weekend, put 11hrs on the engine and had a great time!!!! The portholes looked like hell when we got back to berth, but went and found Noxon7 at a local hardware store...This makes using Never dull like trying to fall a tree with a stone axe! Once again, I have to thank everyone on this site for the awesome information.

Look forward to meeting everyone on the water.

Drew
 
Congrats on the new tug! What color? (I know, a woman question.....) We got ours in September and really love it. We moor in Edmonds. Let us know if you are ever in our neck-of-the-water.


Oh, just spent 2 hours on the brass. Will run out and get some of that Noxon7.

Nancy
 
If I'm not mistaken, Kimshack was for sale recently. Very nice boat.
 
Nancy,

We went with the original blue. I couldn't help it! We are moored in Tacoma, but plan to spend a lot of time in your neck of the woods.

If you have trouble finding the Noxon...Let me know, I will pick you up a bottle at McClendon's. Couldn't find it at Lowe's, HD or ACE, suprised me!

Take care
 
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