Best way to polish brass blanks to a shine before plating?

[seb]

Hello all,

My brass blanks become all tarnished before I have them plated.
What is the best way to make them shine again before plating?
A chemical polishing solution or dip?
A rotary tool with polishing tips?
A dry polisher? (machine type with polishing grit inside)

Are there any professionals who can give me some advice?

Thanks a lot

PS. I have the same issue with silver blanks: are the solutions different than for brass?

[Dennis]

Dear Seb,
If they were once satisfactory and have now tarnished, the plater would probably deal with them. Alternatively Goddard's Silver Dip from your local supermarket will restore both silver and brass. Kind regards, Dennis.

[seb]

Thank you for your reply Dennis,
Actually, some of these blanks (which I have made specially) have light cloud-like marks right from the start. The smelter says it's nearly impossible to avoid when you cast such pieces instead of die cutting them. I can't help wondering if it's because he doesn't polish them carefully enough.
Anyway I will try out Goddard's Silver Dip if I can find it in the country I'm in (Korea). I need a way to clean these blanks myself because I engrave them before having them plated.

Regards,
Sebastien

[Dennis]

What a small cyberspace it is, with you just around the corner in Korea. Failing all else it's Brasso and a small tooth brush for you, Seb. They must surely sell a Brasso lookalike in their Tesco lookalike.
Kind regards, Dennis.