Interesting report. I'm impressed that someone would go through that trouble, and report it to us! Thanks!

I only have one comment/question (not a criticism...). I wonder if the "smooth streaks" you saw after brushing with a bronze brush had anything to do with the solvent "pulling" some small amounts of copper from the brush & reapplying it on the screw. I wonder if it would've looked the same after trying the same method with a nylon brush? I know that the solvent will do a slight dissolving of the brass brush, that part is a given. My question is whether that copper was laid back down on the threads, or if it was the initial copper from the wire that was "dissolved", then "spread out", and "reapplied" by the brush?

If the solvent dissolved the copper wire, would it then allow it to be placed back onto the steel screw, or would it be in solution & carried away?

Anybody care to venture their thoughts? Thanks!

Esldude,

Thanks for a great report on your experiment.

So much of what we see is conjecture, antedotal stories, and repetition of rumor. To actually see someone form an idea and test it is great.

Thanks again.

Hammer