So, three weeks ago I picked up a Pyrene 1-Quart Hand Fire Extinguisher,
posted here. It had the well-deserved tarnish of several decades, but was otherwise in great shape. Except... Except for the rough, crusty green-blue stain down one side of what I can only assume was a long-ago
Carbon tetrachloride leak. It began to annoy me, so I tried very gently to wash it away. Soap and water, of course, did nothing.
I upped my game to Brasso. Nada. 600 grit sandpaper was showing a little bit of promise but even using care and a wood sanding block I was worried I would scratch it, so I stopped. Back to the Brasso with a little more forcefulness.
As usual, the combination of forcefulness and frustration led to carelessness. When I wiped the Brasso off, I saw some glaring brightness next to the stain. In the words of Ripley to Newt,
"I made a clean spot here. Now I've done it. Guess I'll have to do the whole thing."
Grrrr. Went after the stain with the sandpaper then got out the red Tripoli, fired up the Block and buffed everything but the label. I've seen too many brass labels shining like the sun with no hint of ink/paint to bring out the print. I
gingerly used a little Blue Magic and then nearly **** myself as all this black started coming off! Cursing, I quickly wiped it off, expecting the worst, only to realize it was just doing a number on the tarnish. Thankful but wary, I went even more gingerly, and stopped when I couldn't trust it or myself anymore. You can see the label doesn't have quite the luster of the canister--but all the black is there!!
Just thought I would share.