Polishing crusty old 4.5" Cartridges??

[Marknz]

Okay, so in the shed I have two crusty old 4.5" cartridges that were leftovers from HMNZS Wellington's first RCA shoot soon after she was re-commissioned.

Is there anyone in Wellington who knows how to polish these up so they're gleaming like they should? Are there any issues with getting this done mechanically? Do certain parts have to be removed first? Are there any risks involved?

I'd hate to have someone do this job for me and end up in the next issue of the Darwin Awards.

And if anyone does know the in's and out's, and is willing to get these two looking good for a fee ($$ or beers or spirits), please drop me a line.

Cheers
Mark

[nodrog:Me]

are they still live?

[Mully]

Give them a good whack with a hammer to get rid of any cobwebs first. If you don't have a hammer handy, hold them both and bash them together.

(p/t)

I hope to hell they aren't live. You should be OK with Brasso and some elbow grease if they aren't.

[firefighter]

Ok obviously they aren't live (idiots)

the M.T boys polished mine up on the lathe on CY (the real one not the new shithouse one), with a rag and brasso. I hear you can also give them a quick scrub with a scourer first but I will email my mate whos still in (Gunner) and ask him the best way (he loves that shit)

[Marknz]

Live?

Well they still have the pointy thing on the front and they're heavy as hell.




No, just kidding.

They're well used and they came out of the back of the turret after they had been used in the firing run. Just wasn't sure if any of the parts on the arse end of it needed to be removed before polishing. I'm I sounding like I wasn't a gunner yet?

[Marknz]

Ok obviously they aren't live (idiots)

the M.T boys polished mine up on the lathe on CY (the real one not the new shithouse one), with a rag and brasso. I hear you can also give them a quick scrub with a scourer first but I will email my mate whos still in (Gunner) and ask him the best way (he loves that shit)

Good one, cheers

[firefighter]

Live?

Well they still have the pointy thing on the front and they're heavy as hell.
I'm I sounding like I wasn't a gunner yet?

hahaha, yeah a little..... the shells (pointy thing) get loaded on top of the cartridge.........lol - not actually attached like a bullet! No I wasn't a gunner BTW, but my action station was in the magazine loading the turret....

Did you serve or just aquire them?

Iv'e emailed my mate now and when he gets back to me i'll let you know what he says, as for taking anything off the bottom, erm, I don't think so, and I don't think you can.......?!

[firefighter]

Oh yeah once you get them polished up look after them! They are worth a bit in brass alone......And are no-longer used (at least by the RNZN or RAN) as they have been replaced not only with 5" cartridges but are now made of steel too (cheaper)

[xgnr]

Okay, so in the shed I have two crusty old 4.5" cartridges that were leftovers from HMNZS Wellington's first RCA shoot soon after she was re-commissioned.

Is there anyone in Wellington who knows how to polish these up so they're gleaming like they should? Are there any issues with getting this done mechanically? Do certain parts have to be removed first? Are there any risks involved?

I'd hate to have someone do this job for me and end up in the next issue of the Darwin Awards.

And if anyone does know the in's and out's, and is willing to get these two looking good for a fee ($$ or beers or spirits), please drop me a line.

Cheers
Mark

I polished my old 105mm cases using bench grinder with buffer wheels attached. They had all the burnt on shit which took a bit of getting off.

Elbow grease and brasso is just tooo much work.

As to the primer I wouldnt worry about it (base of the case right is what you are talking about)

Cheers

Stu

[Marknz]

As to the primer I wouldnt worry about it (base of the case right is what you are talking about)

yea, the primer, I'm sure that's what the guy called it all those years ago.

[Swoop]

Bugger trying to get the primer out! You'd need a special tool for that anyway.
I coated my old ones with a solution that the paintshop had. It was meant to preserve the shine, but has lost its power so that the tarnish has returned.
Brasso. Best drunk once strained through stale bread... according to the navy's biggest pisshead.

[Jerry74]

Easiest way put the brasso on fairly thickly let it dry to a powder then buff the shit out of it !!!!

Used to polish the brass this way when I was in the army works well and easier on the arm than other ways.

[sAsLEX]

Ok obviously they aren't live (idiots)

the M.T boys polished mine up on the lathe on CY (the real one not the new shithouse one)

The Trade Training school up at Narrowneck had a cloth wheel on a bench grinder which you used some sort of soap like stuff to polish them up.

I have a few sitting down stairs that need doing as well

Oh yeah once you get them polished up look after them! They are worth a bit in brass alone......And are no-longer used (at least by the RNZN or RAN) as they have been replaced not only with 5" cartridges but are now made of steel too (cheaper)

There are some brass ones about of these.....

[alanzs]

Give them a good whack with a hammer to get rid of any cobwebs first. If you don't have a hammer handy, hold them both and bash them together.

Put it in a vice first, before you hit it with the hammer, as your hands grip may not be as tight as you imagined.

[xgnr]

The Trade Training school up at Narrowneck had a cloth wheel on a bench grinder which you used some sort of soap like stuff to polish them up.

I have a few sitting down stairs that need doing as well

Yeah thats it, some of that soapy stuff and a wheel cloth is the way to go.

Maybe get an attachment for the home drill with some sort of polish? DO NOT use any form of 2000 grit polishing paper etc.

Seem to recall that when you have it all pretty, a wipe down with the wife's jewelery cleaner keep it ok as long as you avoid handling (sticky fingers).

Good luck!