A few years ago, I saw a tutorial in which an ugly brass plated lamp was polished to look silver. The transformation was dramatic.
Well, I remembered this post when I bought my brass leaf bowl and actually had some Blue Magic at home. This is actually pretty simple. All you need is Blue Magic cream, fine steel wool, rubber gloves (optional), paper towels or rags and a well-ventilated area. This stuff reeks!
Simply dip the steel wool in the polish cream and use a little elbow grease to rub your brass item. Wipe off the residue to check the progress and continue buffing until you have the desired look. You can turn this:
into this:
The leaf still has a gold tint to it, so I’m thinking its solid brass, not just brass plated. Either way, I think it looks better now.
My bird keeps the leaf company on my nightstand. You’ll notice he got a few coats of gloss white spray paint. Better, right?
It’s a simple solution. Have you given any small items a facelift recently?
ourhumbleabodeblog.com 
Looks great! I had no idea!
Holy Geez! That’s amazing. I’ve spraypainted over unwanted brass, but THIS opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Thanks for posting!
Wow! Looks great!
Wow! 🙂 I will have to find me some of this Blue Magic cream! 🙂
That’s so cool! I didn’t know that was possible. I’ll be looking at brass thrift store items differently now. Thanks 🙂
WOWZERS! Such a difference! Looks fantastic!
I love this! I have a sterling tray that I have been wanting to redo and if all goes well, I will move onto some brass. Thanks for the idea!
wow! Could I do this to all my brass looking ceiling light fixtures? Where do you get the Blue Magic?
Hi Jo,
I’m not completely sure if it would work on all brass looking pieces. It does have to have a layer of real brass. If it’s not real brass, it won’t polish up. If you don’t mind replacing the fixtures, you could give it a shot on one to see if it works. I got the Blue Magic at O’Reilly’s Auto. It’s actually for polishing chrome on cars. Hope it helps!
Thanks!
Amanda
I had no idea you could do that!
WOW!!! That is seriously amazing! I didn’t even know that was possible, and I’ve turned my nose up at so many brass items at thrift stores. Next time I’ll be checking them a bit closer!
Love the look of this…I have all these brass pieces that I want to do this to now…just need to hit-up the auto store!
I’ve never heard of this but I love the idea! Looks fantastic.
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I have a small brass bucket that has followed me around since childhood. I’m never going to display it as it is, so maybe I should try this. Thanks for the idea!
Wow – amazing transformation! I had no idea you could do that to brass! Good to know!!!
Uhm, who knew?!? That is fabulous! Thanks!
Thanks so much for the kind words! It definitely opens up a world of possibilities for dated brass thrift store finds. And it’s super simple!
Thanks!
Amanda
I had no idea you could do that to brass, and it’s so shiny, loving it! I have a brass base on my lamp, I may try this out.
LOVE this technique. I can’t wait to get my hands on my patents old brass lamps and contemporize them!!
Question… Do you have to seal the work when you’re done? Or will the metal tarnish back to a brassy color?
Hi Sara,
I haven’t sealed the finish, but I think it should stay, at least for quite some time. Although, if you do have to polish the brass again, it’s pretty quick. The steel wool really helps. I’d love to see your pics once you’ve finished your lamps. Hope it helps!
Thanks!
Amanda
I’m pretty sure any brass cleaner – Brasso, for instance – would do the same on real brass. At least that’s how I polish mine. People confuse that cheap polished-brass-color builder grade fixtures, etc., with real brass – So they think they don’t like brass. Also, if brass has a sealer on it, you’ll have to take the sealer off in order to polish it – but that means you may also think that what you have isn’t real brass because it doesn’t polish. I’m pretty sure that putting a sealer on it affects the look too. Real brass is heavy too.
Holy canoli, that is AMAZING.
The spray paint is already chipping off the cabinet pulls in the kitchen, so I think I’ll be trying this!
Add me to the list of people looking at funky “brass” stuff in the thrift stores in a whole new way!
Can you use this method for silver/metal things too?
Hi Leeann, If you have something that is silver it should brighten/shine up the color. I don’t know how or if it would work for other metal things. If you give it a try, we’d love to know how it goes. 🙂
Thanks!
Amanda