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Bronze and Steel bells are cleaned very differently.
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Cleaning a BRONZE Bell
DO NOT POWER WASH OR SCRAPE a bronze bell!!!
Brass or bronze are often used to identify a bronze bell.
A bronze bell is usually 77-80% brass and the remainder is tin. An alloy.
All that stuff you read about coins, jewelry being in the mix only helps deaden the sound of the bell.
It has been quietly said that such items sometimes ended up in the pockets of those pouring the bell.
Improper cleaning of these bells will mess up the historical value of the bell.
The tone may be changed.
The greenish patina is normal for a bell kept outside.
Shine it up and the green will come back.
A shiny bell was probably kept inside from day 1.
Place yourself upwind of the bell (if possible) or put a fan on to blow any fumes away from you.
Definitely use a mask if you still get that ammonia smell.
I (only once) ignored this advice, got terribly sick for days, and was welcoming death quite willingly.
Drape the bell with really wet cloths or towels for an hour or so,
then remove them and see if you can hose or wipe off the bell.
This may loosen up the guano and grime on the bell with the least physical contact.
The old way was to remove pigeon poop with soap and water and elbow grease.
I would try the above first.
Look here for more suggestions.
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Cleaning a STEEL Bell.
OK to SAND BLAST or POWER WASH a steel bell!!!
Place yourself upwind of the bell (if possible) or put a fan on to blow any fumes away from you.
Definitely use a mask if you still get that ammonia smell.
I (only once) ignored this advice, got terribly sick for days, and was welcoming death quite willingly.
Drape the bell with really wet cloths or towels for an hour or so,
then remove them and see if you can hose or wipe off the bell.
This may loosen up the guano and grime on the bell with the least physical contact.
I would think that you should dry the bell really well immediately to avoid rusting.
The old way was to remove pigeon poop with soap and water and elbow grease.
I would try the above first.
Cleaning will only partially retard rust.
Use Rustoleum on bell to retard rust.
- And the A-Frame it rests on (if there is one).
On the Naylor Vickers chime in Lancaster PA, they have a guy come in and coat the steel bells with a
#30 weight motor oil.
Messy, but doing the job.
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