Guru
Joined: 26/09/2020
Location: AustraliaPosts: 472
| Posted: 08:36pm 12 Feb 2024 |
I also spent a while as a bench fitter, making contacts for ancient traction machines.
I made the contacts from copper. To keep them clean and bright, I dipped them in Nitric Acid first. Then in a bucket of water while they were hanging on a piece of wire. Then into a solution of brightener that protected the surface from oxidisation. They stayed looking clean and bright for a long time.
Nitric acid works fast to clean copper, just make sure to take all the normal precautions. These days when I have old copper cables that have gone black on the ends and I still want to use them, I dip the ends in Hydrochloric acid then rinse. Works a treat.
Pete