Cleaning tarnished copper how?

[vk2amv]

Hi,
I bought a second hand Koolance K100 (PC2) water cooling case. Now when I got it I noticed the copper CPU water block has a lot of tarnish that you commenly get on coper on it. Now what I want to know is if it would be alright to use the copper tarnish remover that is commenly available at a lot of spermarkets? Or does anyone know a better of cleaning the tarnish off? or does it not mater and it wont affect performance?
Thanks
AREA_51

 

[Unolocogringo]

Any commercial copper cleaner will work fine. And yes you should clean it first. Beware of the silver cleaners with extra ingredients. These leave a coating on the copper.

After removing the tarnish clean it good with Alcohol to remove any residue left by the taarnish remover.

I aint signing nothing!!!

 

[Schmide]

Copper naturally browns, it's part of the oxidation process. Cleaners just take off a layer. That's why if you have valuable copper art you never clean it with chemicals. It shouldn't affect performance; then again I don't think you would ever take off enough to shorten the life of the block. Worry when you get the blue green milky stuff. I use simple green. Other people use CLR. I like the brown color.

Dichromatic for your viewing plesure...

 

[scrumlord]

If you aren't worried about getting the surface wet, take an untreated aluminum pan, fill it with water and put a couple of tablespoons of baking soda in it, then dip the copper right over the submerged pile of baking soda. No scrub, no scum. Then to be safe and ensure no residues remain dry it thoroughly and then wipe the surface clean with alcohol.

 

[vk2amv]

Ok thanks for the help all. I ended up using a local australian product caled brasso. Worked like a charm. It is now a litiral miror finish. And it did make a difference to the heat conductivity. Only a small one but it did.
Thanks again
AREA_51