It might not sound like much, but its got more sentimental value than anything. I have lived in ND for 8 years now, I usually make it back to Illinois once a year to visit family. This past year my dad, who is 78 years old, has been struggling with his health. This year I have have been able to get home about every other month. When I get back it seems like I have a list of chores a mile long but I don't mind. I help out with things he just cant do any longer, pluming, electrical, roof repairs, I even had to move the fridge so mom could clean under it.
A couple of weeks ago I was home. I changed out some spot lights out side, re-caulked a window sill on the 2nd floor. Then dad came to me and asked if I would take this copper cup home and throw it in the ammo brass tumbler. Just to see if would clean up at all. When I saw the cup my first thoughts were no way is the tumbler going to even touch the concrete inside of this thing. I will have to come up with something better. Then dad proceed to explain where he got this cup, it was his dads. I have never meet my grandfather, he passed away when my dad was starting high school. I cant remember the last time he talked about his father. The stamp on the bottom is COVENTRY CRAFTS LTD 1950 CHICAGO ILLINOIS
I left that day knowing this was going to get treated better than a brass tumbler. I have never done anything like this, I have a 13 hr drive home thinking and questioning myself how am I going to pull this of and not do any damage to it. I am not afraid to learn new things, but I do it on my stuff that if it breaks no big deal. I knew once I started there was no going back. I got home on a Sunday evening and went down to my shop and I pulled out my one buffing wheel and polish that was still in the package and right away I started to see results. I was like hell ya, the next afternoon I went to the store and got more wheels and more polish. I spent about 2 hrs a night for the next week working on cleaning it up.
The concrete or what ever inside was a lot harder to get out. I used a dental pick and 400 grit wet sandpaper. After about 30 mins of scraping and sanding it cleaned up. The sand paper left a nice scratchy/ dull finish that I decided to leave. It made a nice distinction from the inside to the outside.
I haven't sent mom or dad pictures of what it looks like. I will be leaving in a couple of days to spend Thanksgiving with them. I will not forget to bring it home with me. I'm very excited to return my grandfathers cup to my dad.