Best Way To Clean A Sheet Metal Sign

These old porcelain signs are growing in popularity as a collector s item.

Best way to clean a sheet metal sign. Begin at one edge of the metal and work across to the other side. Twisted wire cup brushes like this one are good for digging into rust pits in sheetmetal. And be sure to use a very soft cotton towel steering clear of paper towels which can be too rough. Moisten the cloth with the soap mixture and wring it out well.

Dip a soft bristle brush into the cleaning solution and begin washing by making small circles with the brush. Warm a gallon of water until it reaches a level you would consider hot then mix in 1 4 cup of dish washing liquid. Disc sanding works well to remove paint and rust from body panels. Gently wipe away dust and dirt from your metal sign.

However years ago signs were made out of a metal core surrounded by a porcelain layer. Don t use anything stronger as it could easily erode the sign materials. You have to be careful with this technique not to overheat metal and warp it. To clean lightly dip the non abrasive cloth into the cleaning solution of your choice water isopropyl alcohol or glass cleaner or use a spray bottle to very lightly spray the metal print with the solution.

The signs were then painted with text and images before being sealed with enamel. Wash the pot or pan with warm soapy water. However badly rusted metal areas need more prep work and possibly a special primer. Today most signs are made from pressed sheet metal or twisted tubes filled with colored neon gases.

You don t need to get down to bare shiny metal just clean off the flakes and powdery surface rust that prevent paint from adhering. Mix a small amount no more than a teaspoon of a mild dish soap or a natural plant based cleaner with a gallon of water. Use a clean cloth and clean water to wipe off any soapy residue. Be careful too much cleaning solution may cause streaks to form.

Rinse it out then fill it up with clean water 2 tablespoons 30 ml of lemon juice or white vinegar and boil the water for 15 minutes. The first step is to clean off loose rust and flaking paint and then apply a rust inhibitive primer. Clean aluminum with an acid like lemon or vinegar. Carefully dump out the water after 15 minutes and dry the item off thoroughly.