Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Blue Frog Systems on July 14, 2009, 10:22:27 pm

Title: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on July 14, 2009, 10:22:27 pm: Same customer as the upvc wants her lead on leaded windows bringing back to life. Don't know how bad it is.
Was thinking something like brasso and being carefull
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: jonnyald on July 14, 2009, 10:28:31 pm: buffing with the scrim works a treat . damp scrim
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on July 14, 2009, 10:55:20 pm: Does it last though ? Windows will be done WFP normally, just the customer says they are faded and wants them looking as good as they can get.
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: Helen on July 14, 2009, 11:02:19 pm: Quote from: Window Wipers on July 14, 2009, 10:55:20 pm
Does it last though ? Windows will be done WFP normally, just the customer says they are faded and wants them looking as good as they can get.
Nothing lasts for ever. sounds like she may be selling up :)
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: martinsadie on July 14, 2009, 11:04:46 pm: tell her its not your problem,
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: jonnyald on July 14, 2009, 11:06:54 pm: well i only clean trad ,so i wouldnt know if the shine lasts forever . i cant squeegee a leaded window so i always wipe them vigorously with a damp scrim and they shine like new lead
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on July 14, 2009, 11:38:02 pm: She's not selling up, she's just house proud and wants her windows looking nice. I'm only doing the front and she has paid a couple of cleans up front.

I know its not my problem, but as my customer I would like to be able to help her. If a customer of yours asked if you could do the same I'm sure you wouldn't tell them its not your problem, find out yourself!
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: martinsadie on July 14, 2009, 11:41:55 pm: its the kind of job you can spend ages on with no result and feel guilty charging for
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: chris@c.m.s on July 15, 2009, 08:11:45 am: Lead oxidises very quickly usually within a few days, when its new on leaded windows I'd imagine it has a lacquered coating on it that stops the oxidation, once that has worn of though you would be wasting your time IMO.
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: jonnyald on July 15, 2009, 08:22:47 am: i can imagine how those windows look, the lead is oxidised light grey almost white ,looks bad . but once buffed ,it would take months or maybe even years to look bad again . it does take a bit of elbow grease but not a long time. the scrim is quite harsh cloth and thats why it sortof polishes off the oxidizing. im assuming that the lead you are talking about is those strips stuck on the glass in a diamond fashion ,was popular in the 1980"s and not those medeival leaded windows ,such as on churches lol
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: paul beckett on July 15, 2009, 01:21:05 pm: the only way to bring lead up like new is use steel wool, but after while it would oxidise. but it certainaly works really well

regards

paul
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: kevinc on July 19, 2009, 05:32:17 pm: window wipers send or post some pics mate we can help
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on July 19, 2009, 07:20:21 pm: Quote from: kevinc on July 19, 2009, 05:32:17 pm
window wipers send or post some pics mate we can help

Will do when im that way next kevinc.

She wants to do it herself as its only the lower windows
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: sgibsoncleaning on July 19, 2009, 09:45:02 pm: with leaded glass panels when completed they are treated with black lead, now illeagal. the product i used was zeebo grate polish, they took the lead out. apply with a cloth leave to dry for 15 mins then buff off. nice shiny dark finish. clean surrounding glass with news paper, you cant put anything cleaning wise on for a day or two.
be aware of oxcidised lead if you use wire wool you need a mask and gloves, as old lead dust carries a high chance of lead poising from inhalation, as for gloves keeps your hands clean and stops ingestion of lead.
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: paul beckett on July 19, 2009, 10:15:00 pm: trust me ,i used to work with lead all the time. and it is exactly right what
sgibsoncleaning is saying about gloves, you must listen, never smoke especially roll ups when dealing with lead and also wash hands before eating sandwiches, just think what your doing after hadling it, trust me i've seen someone go through symptoms with dealing with lead.
anyway i know for sure wire wool definitley works, it gives an excellant shine to it, just like it was new, just be careful not to scratch the windows, try using grade 0000 try it, it will probably still work.

kind regards
paul
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: windowcleaninginessex.co.uk on July 20, 2009, 06:51:04 am: DO NOT use wire wool, chance of scratching windows even if is grade 0000, not only that hard work.
Best thing to use is plantation oil, they use this on leaded roofs to bring it up like new, quick and simple to use ,wipe on, wipe off, be carefull don't go splashing over glass.
Got mine from builders merchant go to one and ask before you use wire wool.
I do agree about wearing gloves though, posability of lead poisoning.
Darren
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: paul beckett on July 20, 2009, 05:02:50 pm: thats the only thing about using plantation oil you definitely dont want to get it on the windows, you'll be sorry if you did, youve been warned.
Title: Re: Bringing faded lead back to life ?
Post by: paul beckett on July 20, 2009, 05:03:10 pm: thats the only thing about using plantation oil you definitely dont want to get it on the windows, you'll be sorry if you did, youve been warned.