Antiquing Brass Hardware

[NoahL]

Hello everyone,

I figured I might as well post a quick how-to on how I antique brass hardware. Not sure if anyone is interested, but it can't hurt, right? This is how I turned this:

Into this (forgive the crappy photography):

Here are my steps:

Scrub the surface of the hardware with steel wool until it has a dull shine

Pour vinegar into a container--enough to cover the bottom

Suspend the hardware above the vinegar (I tied string to the clips and taped the string to the outside of the container)

Cover the container with plastic wrap

Let sit as a blotchy, dark patina develops

When you have reached a patina you like, take the hardware out of the container and dry it off

Place hardware on an electric heat source (I used my electric stove on a medium setting) until it begins to darken

Remove hardware from heat (use pliers) and quench in mineral oil

Clean the oil off the hardware

That should give you a nice, somewhat uneven patina, which you can then buff with steel wool in spots that you want to shine like they have some wear. For my Apocalyptic Survivor style hardware, I usually add a bit of a melted texture by smearing wood glue on the surface of the hardware and then heating it over an open flame until it ceases to bubble.

~Noah

[UKRay]

Now how did you know I was about to ask that question?

Many thanks, Noah. Useful info and very timely!

Ray

[AndyL1]

That is fantastic! Thanks for the post on this. I've been wondering how to go about getting a nice used look on some hardware. Do you think the same process would work on shiny nickle plated stuff? I am going to have to experiment.

Cheers,

Andy

[moeg]

Thanks Noah,

I've been wondering how to do that too.

Moe

[TomBanwell]

Noah, how long does this process take? Especially the hanging over vinegar part?

Thanks, Tom

[NoahL]

Now how did you know I was about to ask that question?

Many thanks, Noah. Useful info and very timely!

Ray

I'm psychic? Haha, I'm glad I could be of assistance!

That is fantastic! Thanks for the post on this. I've been wondering how to go about getting a nice used look on some hardware. Do you think the same process would work on shiny nickle plated stuff? I am going to have to experiment.

Cheers,

Andy

Well, I would be careful with anything plated--I did this to a buckle last night that was supposedly brass, but apparently it was actually a brass-plated pewter alloy of some kind because it started to melt on my stove and it's ruined now.

Thanks Noah,

I've been wondering how to do that too.

Moe

You're welcome!

Noah, how long does this process take? Especially the hanging over vinegar part?

Thanks, Tom

It depends on how blotchy and dark you want it to look, but those clips spent approximately an hour to an hour and a half over the vinegar--just hang them up and go out to eat

~Noah

[cowboyjohn]

Hello everyone,

I figured I might as well post a quick how-to on how I antique brass hardware. Not sure if anyone is interested, but it can't hurt, right? This is how I turned this:

Into this (forgive the crappy photography):

Here are my steps:

Scrub the surface of the hardware with steel wool until it has a dull shine

Pour vinegar into a container--enough to cover the bottom

Suspend the hardware above the vinegar (I tied string to the clips and taped the string to the outside of the container)

Cover the container with plastic wrap

Let sit as a blotchy, dark patina develops

When you have reached a patina you like, take the hardware out of the container and dry it off

Place hardware on an electric heat source (I used my electric stove on a medium setting) until it begins to darken

Remove hardware from heat (use pliers) and quench in mineral oil

Clean the oil off the hardware

That should give you a nice, somewhat uneven patina, which you can then buff with steel wool in spots that you want to shine like they have some wear. For my Apocalyptic Survivor style hardware, I usually add a bit of a melted texture by smearing wood glue on the surface of the hardware and then heating it over an open flame until it ceases to bubble.

~Noah

[cowboyjohn]

Quite a few years ago I used to renovate old furiture and to antique new brass fittings used ammonia.

You just need to expose the fitting to ammonia gas so a small cup of ammonia and a plastic bag to form a tent does the trick.

Dosn't give the almost black finnish you got with vinegar but gives the brass a nice patina.

[NoahL]

Quite a few years ago I used to renovate old furiture and to antique new brass fittings used ammonia.

You just need to expose the fitting to ammonia gas so a small cup of ammonia and a plastic bag to form a tent does the trick.

Dosn't give the almost black finnish you got with vinegar but gives the brass a nice patina.

I've seen a few knife fittings that have been tarnished with ammonia, but I don't like the idea of having that particular chemical in my apartment, so I sought out a more lung-friendly method. The ammonia does give a nice patina, though.

~Noah

[CitizenKate]

Hey, thanks, Noah! I've been looking for a way to do this!

Kate