Brass Polishing Kit for Drills (Mops, Mandrel & Compound)

Dull, tarnished brass polishes up beautifully with the right mop and compound. This drill-mounted brass polishing kit turns an afternoon of rubbing with metal polish into a few minutes of work.

It is ideal for door furniture, fireplace fenders, candlesticks and ship fittings, and it works just as well on copper and aluminium.

What’s in the kit

• 1 x reverse-thread mandrel (6mm shank, fits any standard drill)
• 1 x 75mm dry sisal mop (coarse, for removing scratches and oxidation)
• 1 x 75mm white stitched mop (medium, for refining the finish)
• 1 x 75mm soft WDR mop (for the final shine)
• 1 x bar of brown cutting compound for non-ferrous metals
• 1 x bar of blue polishing compound for non-ferrous metals

What you can use it on

• Door knobs, handles, letterboxes and knockers
• Candlesticks, lamps, trays and ornaments
• Fireplace fenders, companion sets and fittings
• Boat and ship fittings, plaques and hardware

How to use it

1. Wash the item in warm soapy water to remove grease and dirt, then dry it.
2. Slide a mop between the two washers on the mandrel and tighten the reverse-thread nut. The reverse thread stops it undoing as it spins. Fit the mandrel into your drill.
3. Load the coarse sisal mop: run the drill and press the darker cutting compound against the spinning mop for a second or two. Clamping the bar in a vice or G-clamp makes this easier.
4. Work over the surface with light, even pressure. Keep the mop moving so it never sits in one spot.
5. Change to the white stitched mop to refine the finish, using cutting or polishing compound.
6. Finish with the soft WDR mop and the lighter polishing compound, and watch the shine come up.
7. Buff away any compound residue with a clean, soft cloth.

Good to know

• Works with a standard corded or cordless drill, an air tool, or any rotary tool that takes a 6mm spindle.
• Run at under 3,000 RPM. Faster speeds wear the mops quickly and heat the metal.
• Keep one mop for each compound so they don’t cross-contaminate.
• Skip the sisal mop if the surface only has light tarnish and start with the stitched mop.
• Take door furniture off the door if you can. It is quicker to polish and you won’t mark the paintwork.

Questions

Can I polish lacquered brass?

Not until the lacquer is removed. The mop can’t reach the metal through the lacquer. Strip it first with a lacquer remover, then polish.

How can I tell if it is solid brass?

Try a magnet. Solid brass is not magnetic. If the magnet sticks, the item is probably brass-plated steel, so polish gently because the plating is thin.

How do I keep brass shiny?

Finish with a thin coat of wax or a clear metal lacquer to slow down tarnishing.

Does the price include VAT?

Yes. The price shown includes UK VAT, and most items ship free within the UK.

Safety

Always follow your drill’s instructions and wear eye protection and gloves. Tie back loose clothing and hair, work in a well-ventilated area and clean up dust and compound residue afterwards. Test on a hidden area before you start.

Related: How to polish brass | Copper and brass polishing guide | Copper Polishing Kit