LawnJockey Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I am doing a quickie kitchen job and I want solid brass drawer pulls but not that shinny 80s polished brass look. I have located the drawer pulls I want, they are cast brass and polished. They don't have that ugly laquer finish. What I would like to do is dull the polished finish and let use polish them over time as it will. Anyone have any experience doing something like this? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Greetings Lawn, You could try first a bath in a good paint remover than polish with some 000 steel wool . Wipe super clean and add a little wax finish . I hope this helps .. Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I would always try one first, but what about a soak in a mild acid, like common household vinegar? Put one in for say 30 minutes, wash it, and see what you get. If not dull enough, try doing it longer. Easy to do, and when done, just pour the vinegar down the drain, no toxic chemicals to deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I use a mix of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and salt to age items quickly - have never used it on brass so I'm not sure how it would work, but works like a charm on mild steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawnJockey Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 Great ideas. I think I will start with an acetone cleaning to remove any polish residue. There isn't any laquer so remover is probably over kill. I will order a couple of extras to experiment on. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 look up "Patinas for brass" and you will probably find what you are looking for on the first page of links Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Strip any finish, and just use them. The brass parts at work will tarnish pretty quickly when just left to the elements. The oils,etc on your hands will do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawnJockey Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 We are getting this place ready to sell so I don't have time to let them age on their own. I have done some looking around on the Net and it looks like vinegar is the ticket. The cabinets are dark stained oak (built by the former owner a cabinet maker), the counters are a grayish brown granite and the appliances are stainless. We are going to refresh the cabinet finish with tung oil. The floors will be saltillo tile and the walls will be a pearl finish white to brighten things up a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenylittlemetalguy Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 i think the vinegar is not going to leave you with a dark patina like you want. you might try one of these options; ammonia fumes- suspend them in a closed container of ammonia. don't let the liquid touch them. this can cause issues with the strength of the metal so don't leave them a long time in the fumes. couple hours should be good if at room temp. #2 is to make a saturated solution of baking soda and spray them every time they dry out. both of these need a clean grease free finish to start with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I was going to tecomend ammonia myself, as I know from experiance it will eat a brass nib up in a hart eat. Isnt it sulferic acid that tarnises it in the realworld? (Acid rain) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenylittlemetalguy Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 I have never tried sulphuric acid on brass, but I read just the other day that ammonia can cause weakness over the long term in brass. Not sure why and have not had a chance to investigate it deeper. Being this is just a drawer handle it likely isn't an issue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenylittlemetalguy Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Also I have used sulphuric for a pickle on silver for years and my copper tweezers never had an issue. If the brass does it must be the zinc that has the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Ammonia certainly rats up pen nibs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsterling Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Birchwood Casey Super Blue (gun bluing), available at any place that sells firearms. Paint on bare metal after good cleaning, neutralize with household ammonia when the brass is as dark as you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Liver of sulfur works nicely and is safe for people and metals. Well, don't dip your fingers in it. It will patina copper alloys from just taking the shine off it to flat black depending on time. Liver of sulfur is one or more compounds of sulfur and potassium. (sulfide,bi, thio, poly, etc.) There's a product for hydroponic growing or gardens that is a similar potassium compound that works well if more slowly. Ammonia fuming works well and under the right conditions can produce Statue of Liberty green on copper, I don't k now about brass or bronze. Of course you can just pee on it and leave it in a humid place for a while but . . . Heck if you have an oxy acet torch you can probably just warm it up and put it in a jar of baggy filled with oxy. I've never tried that but what the hey, it might work. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhartironwerks Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Frosty has it. Just break up a few small chunks and mix in warm water. Stinky stuff but it is what you need . It will turn brass a purplish black. After getting the dark color you want, rinse in water, dry and buff with either fine steel wool or a 3M scratchy pad. works great on bronze as well. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 John, I guess you mean the liver of sulfur and not the 'yellow snow' :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 John, I guess you mean the liver of sulfur and not the 'yellow snow' :) Could be either Ian it's just preference. Speaking of preference you can bury it in the litter box and let kitty's high potency product age it for you. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Sorry, to the OP I had meant to add that if you are looking for the 'used brass look' I've found that if you take a slice of lemon and dip it in salt and then rub the item it gives a 'differentiation on wear' type of pattern . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Frosty, these are 'kitchen drawer pulls' I'm all for being close to you pets but the litter box is pushing it! :) even for those of us in deepest darkest Africa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Aldepends on the size of the "cat" and "litter box" Ian. As depocted on the Discovery Chanel, Africa is just a big litter box with some godauffle bid cats. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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