(Updated) How to clean Glass Insulators (HD)

[@GeoffreyMoran]

This is such a great way to clean them!

[@Kiki123]

Those look beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing! I have a project to make something with my insulators and didn't realize how beautiful they could turn out.

[@JohnM1774]

WOW !!!!!!!!!!!! That is FANTASTIC I have an insulator from 1871 and black as coal. It is blue glass I am trying this in a couple of days. Will let you know how it came out. Have a Great Day

[@Sara__jo__]

Just found one in the river from the mid 1800s that is filthy. Can’t wait to try this!!! Thank you!!

[@claytonsimplot9554]

I have a W BROOKFIELD NEW YORK insulator it has a backwards 1 on the top . Is it worth anything? It cleaned up nicely,thank you.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you for your insulator cleaning videos. These are very helpful. I do have an issue and wonder if you could advise on what I should do. I have a porcelain signal style insulator that has the wooden peg (the type that was fitted to a metal bolt) stuck inside. Would soaking it in Barkeeper's Friend help free that up? I tried manually removing it but am afraid that I might break the porcelain. Would the BKF eat into the wood or lubricate it enough to free the wood up? I'd rather not leave the wood in there. If you have a better idea, then I'd appreciate that as well. Thank you so much!

[@SF-ms2yc]

I’ve always found it easier to dump half a can of BKF into a bin, add a few gallons of hot water, add the insulators and wait 24 hours. That makes it less difficult to scrub the soot off. This say is good if you have a sink like that though, and especially if it’s winter. Nice video!

[@TWIGYBNSF]

Thanks for watching! I have done that exact same method before I started doing this. I find it to take longer with the hot water and BKF poured in a bucket. I have a video on that. But we all have different method and I'm happy to share this new one too

[@daryllp6270]

Thanks for the video - May I ask if you have a solve for my insulators getting cloudy after this method? I find after rinsing, a good portion of the insulators get cloudy or dusty (re-wetting solves temporarily, but cloudy returns after drying) . Thanks :)

[@MrSwosh89]

hey would it be ok to ask you to perform a small experiment? I was thinking how about cleaning glass with a lubricant instead of an acid?

[@ICrailroadprod.2007]

I heard that SOS and Brillo pads work really good for cleaning insulators.

[@aidancprailrailwaystuffeng4612]

Good advice how to clean my insulators

[@reneem.6103]

This is so helpful...thank you!

[@KyleW818]

I use this tactic all the time, the only trouble I have is the insulators turn kind of foggy when they dry.

[@leebrewer1190]

There is a much easier way. And its fast Look into a product called Acid Magic. Its inexpensive and sold at True value or a pool supply store. A thirty second to one mintue soak and the dirt will wipe off with a cloth. Acid Magic is concentrated Hydrochloric acid but is safe to skin (!). If you have a cut you will feel it though. The fumes are very minimal compared to normal acid. After you use it a few times the fumes are not an issue. 12 hour soak with no scrubbing: Crystal Drano (sodium hydroxide - a base) dissolved in a about 3 gallons of water (I use a 5 gallon bucket). Do this outside (fumes) until you have used the lye repeatedly and the fumes are no longer a problem. Let them soak overnight and wipe them off with a cloth (temp needs be at least room temp.). If they come out dirty, then you need an acid. Make another 3 gallons up using Barkeeper's friend and soak them overnight. Wipe them clean. Another 1 minute soak - but educate yourself on handling strong acids and go to a pool supply shop for a gallon of Hydrochloric acid - DEFINTELY use upwind of it. soak for maybe a minute and wipe clean (after rinse - again - read up on how to use a concentrated acid). Sometimes a repeated soak is needed with any of the above. The King CREB