Cleaning rust off Brass?

[Brian L.]

Anyone know an easy way to get rid of rust on brass, for example, a Hunter original.

[Cullen D.]

I don't know how to remove rust, every attempt I've tried has only made the rust worse. But brass on an Original (or any Hunter) is just paint over nickel plating. Removing the rust will also remove the paint, so after removing it you're going to have to polish the fan and make it brushed nickel.

[vanhalen5150]

Rust on a brass Hunter can only come from the other side (inside) of the metal unless the brass coating AND the nickel plate (and the copper plate beneath that) are compromised. In the case of the originals... it's coming from the porousness of the casting, humidity in the environment (Florida for instance), from the inside rust starts, it finds a spot and works it's way through... seeing it on the outside is a long process.

[Brian L.]

I was going to pick these up, but then I saw what I assumed was rust on the fan
houston.craigslist.org/app/5337005069.html

[Jordan U]

If you're working with a plated surface, which is the majority of fans, its very difficult/impossible to remove the rust without removing the finish.. The only thing that comes to mind is you'd have to strip the finish and replate it..

[spencerr]

I'd use steal wool, that's how I got the rust off of one of my MTBD fans. But it might remove some of the finish.

[Adam D.]

Or wet sanding sometimes may work.. I would try wet sanding with dish soap at first with high grit sand paper or sand block... But if they are plated like most ceiling fans, Then I doubt that would work.. But if it's small areas it would not hurt to give that a try, and if the finish comes off you could also try and hide it with brass spray paint with just a small thin coat..