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Letter 1198
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Tom Pullizzi |
PAUL,
I HAVE RECENTLY DEVELOPED A VERY SIMPLE PIECE OF CHEMISTRY TO BLACKEN COPPER. JUST TAKE THE ZINC PURIFIER USED IN A CYANIDE ZINC PROCESS, AND MAKE IT UP A 1% - ROOM TEMPERATURE. THIS HAS REPLACED OUR EBENOL SYSTEM WHICH RUNS HOT.
ALSO, THERE ARE OXIDE CHEMISTRIES USED IN THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD INDUSTRY FOR MULTILAYER BONDING. THESE WORK ALSO, BUT YOU NEED TO WIPE THE PARTS TO GET A SOMEWHAT "SHINY" LOOK. WITH THE PURIFIER SYSTEM, THERE IS NO NEED TO WIPE.
REGARDS,
RAY
RAY DELOREY
- Cambridge, Ontario
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--- Use liver of sulphur
Liver Of Sulphur
Ed Kassery
--- Selenium dioxide is a fantastic chemical for blackening copper and brass. In fact, it is the chemical trophy engravers use on a laminated brass plaque to make the lettering black (the lettering cuts through the lacquer). It's totally jet black and very hard. The product they use is called Gravoxide or oxidizer. It's more readily available in Birchwood-Casey [link is to product info at Amazon] Gun Bluing. It's advertised as a blue/black oxide finish for steel but it is very effective on brass/copper. Brasso [link is to product info at Amazon] polish does not readily remove this finish. I'd recommend an acid pickle to remove existing oxide or whatever method you have to get the metal very, very clean first. Danny Miller |
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Can anyone give me the location/phone number of where I can get in
touch with the supplier Gessein^Gesswein
referenced in one of the responses above?
Kim M 
- Azle, Texas
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The spelling is incorrect on your inquiry, it should be "Gesswein" polishing tools and accessories.
Gary Garcia
- Modesto, California
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We are lasering brass with a YAG laser and then using Gravoxide to turn the lettering black. It looks fine for a few days but then gets fuzzy looking (spider webs out from the text) because the gravoxide isn't neutralized (maybe?) and keeps working. Does anyone have any ideas about another chemical to use or how to stop the Gravoxide from staying active?
Joe Midkiff
awards industry - Statesville, North Carolina
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I am etching brass washers to make jewelry and would like to know of a relatively safe and economical way to do this. I have some directions that call for brass darkeners (Brass oxidizer) ...it comes in a pint size container...I don't need anywhere near this amount.
Kathryn Adams
Teacher - Easley, South Carolina
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Can someone tell me a simple kitchen formula for turning copper or bronze to green? I have heard something like vinegar and ammonia plus a third ingredient, but have no idea of the proportions. I want to know because I want to stain my concrete floor. I used silver, gold and copper powder from Daniel Smith on wet concrete and got a beautiful green and black coloration, with a little brown. Now I am working with dry concrete and I want to try the copper powder again, and spray on a solution that will oxidize it. Then I will apply a clear concrete finish. Thank you.
Jane Seymour
Hobbyist/artist - Freeland, Washington
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Well, more of a bathroom formula than a kitchen formula for turning copper to green: urine. Conservators of old paintings often use this method to create verdigris for mixing paint.
Lee Boychuk
- Saanichton, British Columbia, Canada
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I have a house built in 1963 and all of the kitchen cabinets
and drawers have hammered copper pulls that are no longer bright
and shiny. I would love for them to be black, but I don't want to
just spray paint them a flat black. Is there anything I can do to
make them oxidized to a black finish? I hope that this makes sense
because I have never had any experience with metals.
Thanks-
Lauren White
consumer - Toccoa, Georgia
Hi, Lauren. If they are real copper (check with a magnet first to make sure they're not steel), and there is no lacquer or clear coat on them, what you have read on this page should work. Good luck
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
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My daughter is moving into a new house. Her fixtures all have the appearance of oil rubbed bronze. I have a lovely chandelier that is perfect for her dining room, except it has a shiny brass finish. Is there any way to paint or otherwise refinish it to give it a darker, duller look?
Terry Foster
crafty mom - Columbia, Missouri
Hi, Terry. If you know the chandelier to be real brass, you can
try to remove the lacquer from it with
Acetone [link is to product info at Rockler] or
lacquer thinner [link is to product info at Amazon]. Then you
can darken it as above. But easier and safer, if not as permanent,
might be a
Rub 'n Buff The Original Wax Metallic Finish
[link is to product info at MisterArt]. Good
luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
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I would like to antique or tarnish some copper wire to tone it down---it's just to bright and new looking. Could I use the same methods used for antiquing silver?
Karrie Crotty
hobbyist - Seattle, Washington
April 18, 2008
I have a lovely chandelier that has a shiny brass finish. I would
love to tone down that shininess. Actually I would love to find a way
to refinish it with out taking it down and taking it apart? I know
that is a lot to ask. But, that would really be a pain.
Is there a way to do this?
Thanks,
Laura
Laura Nygaard
hobbyist - Rancho Santa Margarita, California
September 8, 2008
I would try to coat the surface of the chandelier with a dark
glaze. The result would be a delicate finish, but a Chandelier
doesn't get much handling and would look great for a long time to
come. You could purchase some water based glaze and add extremely
dark water based paint (found in craft stores) until it is the color
you like and paint it on the brass with a small brush. This will make
it look "antiqued". You can do several coats depending on how dark
you want it to look. It will also tone down the shine.
I have also painted brass chandeliers white or off-white, or even a
color! They look gorgeous! Just make sure you have cleaned it well
and spray it with white paint.
Angela Burns
- Chester, New Jersey
June 20, 2009
We own several lamps and lights that are Brass Plated. Can you please tell me how to tarnish the plating so that it appears darker? Is there a simply product that can be purchased to accomplish this? If so, can you please tell me where to buy such product? Thanks!
Tim Edwards
home owner, hobbyist - Clarkston,
Michigan
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June 25, 2009 To darken brass, you must first strip any varnish on
it. Hong Lim
July 3, 2009 Hi, Hong. My Palmolive Dishwashing Liquid does not list its contents at all except to say that it is phosphate-free and do not use with chlorine bleach. Regards,
I am working on a "shadow box" for someone who is retiring from the Navy. The shadow box holds a flag and all of the member's medals. Inside the shadow box is a brass plate with all of the tours of duty. Unfortunately it is very hard to read the etching, is there any way to darken the plate so the etching is easier to read? Shannon Van
Meter
I want to match a new panel I am making with a hammered copper sink already in the room. How can I get the new copper to darken and what kind of wax is best for the finish? I called one company and the process they use on the sinks is "secret". Lois Campbell
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