Restoring a Copper Cup - 11/23/2020 04:50 PM
Not sure where to put this.
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.
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.
