Re: Whistle Maintenance.

Kevin, I have never had the privedge of restoring a whistle, but I've restored a lot of other stuff of similar vintage with paint on brass/bronze that needed off. If you bead blast the surface it will have an etched appearance that you may not like. I would use a paint stripper such as Zip Strip. This stuff can be bought at most hardware/paint stores. It is nasty toxic stuff, so if you want live to be a grumpy middle age person like me, use whatever saftey precautions the instructions on the can recommends. This would probably be use in good ventilation, wear rubber gloves and eye protection. This stuff is kind of a clear jelly that when applied with a brush or rag will bubble the paint right off usually in a half hour or less. Apply it fairly thick. You can use a wire brush or steel wool to help it along and hose off with water. After you get the paint off, Brasso will probably give you a really nice finish. This is the metal polish I have used for years and with a little elbow grease and a coarse rag it does wonders to tarnished brass. I sometimes mount a cloth wheel in my drill press or in an electric drill to cut down the manual work polishing with Brasso. Good Luck and please post a photo when you get it done. I wonder what it will sound like? Bring it to the SVRy and we'll be happy to test it sometime.