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Couple a couple pewters minis that have some crudey buildup on them. I want to try a metal brush. Does anyone know if a copper, brass, or stainless steel brush would work without damaging the mini?

I tried a nylon brush but it didn't work.

personally, I wouldnt put a metal brush anywhere near my minis >.<

Try a small nailfile or just a small file.

When I clean pewter/whitemetal I take a brass brush (disk) in a rotary tool and I lightly (very lightly) "scrub" the whole mini. From whiteish and opaque it becomes sort of darker and kind of polished; that will allow a smoother, less grainy paint coat, other than removing the remaining flashes and sort. Be careful on not applying too much pressure and wear some eye protection, and mind also your fingers (the aid of some sort of support to hold the miniature helps)

Files & knife only IMO. I do use brass wire brushes on resin models but they can take it - pewter is too soft.

I use a file and a hobby knife. Brushes can definitely do large areas, but I'd come in behind and clean everything up because it's going to scratch everything up like crazy.

I've just cleaned a couple dozen figures with a brass brush... It worked wonderfully with moderate pressure. You would need a significant amount of pressure to do any damage to a metal figure.

Well, I am told I have the elgance of a Gorilla.

Steel wool. The finer stuff is generally what is recommended, but I haven't had any issues with scratches using the #0 I had lying around. Knocks the oxidation right off and I needn't worry about control, like I might with a brass brush in a rotary tool.

I can't really get a file to the areas where the gunk is built-up so some sort of brush would have to suffice.

Kerrathyr wrote:When I clean pewter/whitemetal I take a brass brush (disk) in a rotary tool and I lightly (very lightly) "scrub" the whole mini. From whiteish and opaque it becomes sort of darker and kind of polished; that will allow a smoother, less grainy paint coat, other than removing the remaining flashes and sort. Be careful on not applying too much pressure and wear some eye protection, and mind also your fingers (the aid of some sort of support to hold the miniature helps)

What type of brush/tool do you use. I am not sure I would be comfortable with this method. I see myself totally destroying details.

Ulterior wrote:I've just cleaned a couple dozen figures with a brass brush... It worked wonderfully with moderate pressure. You would need a significant amount of pressure to do any damage to a metal figure.

Where you get this brass brush? What type/kind is it?

oadie wrote:Steel wool. The finer stuff is generally what is recommended, but I haven't had any issues with scratches using the #0 I had lying around. Knocks the oxidation right off and I needn't worry about control, like I might with a brass brush in a rotary tool.

Thanks Oadie. I think a brush would be better. These are Nid models and there are a lot of crevices to get to. Not sure the steel wool will work.

Is brass softer than stainless steel and copper?

I purchased this set:

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/3-pack-brushes-nylon-brass-stainless/804008

I have a large amount of old 2'nd edition marines including some unique characters, some of which had some heavily built up paint. The brush really got into the hard to reach grooves.

It got rid of any oxidation as well without loss of any detail, even on the finer bits.

Believe it or not but it even worked on the old plastic arms of the metal models without any damage to the plastic.

When I strip pewter miniature I soak them in Turpintine for a day and then hit them with a hard bristle toothbrush

I have used the cheap brass brushes many times in cleaning minis ...even plastic ones.

they should be fine.

You can get them at discount hardware and dollar stores for about a buck.

best of luck

 amrogers3 wrote:
Thanks Oadie. I think a brush would be better. These are Nid models and there are a lot of crevices to get to. Not sure the steel wool will work.

Yeah, it can be tricky to get into the tighter spots. Any chance you have a Harbor Freight store nearby? They've got a Brass Detail Brush for a whopping $0.49 that fits the bill, but it isn't worth getting one shipped to you. I'm sure there are plenty of other sources for the same thing, but I like to buy cheap when the tool is so simple that almost nothing can go wrong.

Regardless, a brass brush (I wouldn't go stainless - it'll be stiffer and have sharper ends on the bristles, resulting in deeper scratches) won't smooth out minor pitting in the surface, like steel wool or sandpaper would, but it should still knock the crud off without scratching deeply enough to show through paint (just tested mine on some rough, oxidized white metal chunks I had laying around). Could always give it a once over with the brush, then break out the steel wool/emery board/whatever for the higher points if you want to get the surface looking better than new.