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Letter 1783
Antiquing a new chrome finish
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What's the recommended technique for "antiquing" a newly plated
chrome-on-brass object? It's just too bright; it looks wrong. I'm
looking for a treatment for the chrome itself; I'd rather not overlay
it with a lacquer. And I'd like it to be a hands-on process,
something I can control (as opposed to burying it in manure or
somesuch). And thanks in advance.
Ben Truwe Medford, Oregon
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Dear Mr. Truwe,
Actually, I had never thought of it, but burying the object in
manure might not be a bad idea. To speed up the process, and to make
it more "hands on", I would heat the manure to about 350F. Pig or
poultry manure might work better than some of the "milder" antiquing
manures.
I'm half joking, of course, but baking the part with some damp,
acid, organic like peat moss, may work without the lacrimating effect
of hot pig manure.
It might be easier to obtain the effect if we think about it
before the chromium is plated. We often get questions at this website
on how to develop a "fast patina", and it is not obvious how to speed
up a process that usually takes years.
Since antique chromium plating does tend to darken, pit, and
generally show the underlaying deposits, and the base metal, it might
be better to have an irregular, porous surface before chromium
plating.
note: since we have only been plating chromium since about 1924
(Electrodeposition
of CHROMIUM from chromic acid solutions, George Dubpernell,
Pergamon Press, New York, 1977), I don't know that we have any really
antique chrome, yet.
It would be nice to have a thin, cracked nickel layer under the
chromium.
How about a Watts nickel bath, with 0.25-1% Carrier, 3% secondary
auxiliary carrier, 0.1 to 0.5% primary brightener, pH about 5.0,
140F, good agitation, If we can get the nickel to spontaneously crack
when dunked in hot and cold water, or crack and darken when popped
into an oven, we might get some interesting patterns. See your local
plating supplier about this, she will think you are completely mad,
of course.
Also, antique chrome has a look of a fine pattern of holes, hazes,
and for lack of a better term, cloudiness. I wonder if you could make
a nickel bath which is short of wetting agent to get some pitting. It
will take some doing to de-engineer the modern bright nickel plating
bath, so you will need an expert in bad plating.
Like the farmer said to the County Extension agent, when asked if
he would plant some experimental fields on his land; He politely
refused, with the explanation: "I'm not going to plant corn worse
than I know how".
You need someone who is happy to plate nickel worse than he knows
how. That would be me, since it satifies the
child-chemistry-set-I-will-invent-something-never-seen-before-thereby-earning-the-undying-respect-of-my-friends
in me.
Regards,
+++++++
Hello
I have 2 new chrome plated hinges to replace 1 broken one on a
hundred year old wooden ice box. I will replace both hinges.
My hinges will match in appearance but they are just too shiny and
new looking. Any suggestions to dull the shine?
Thanks
Mike
Michael Burnett
- Tucson, Arizona USA
+++++++
Paints will not stick to chrome but a
Rub 'n Buff The Original Wax Metallic Finish
 [link is to product info at MisterArt] may work, Michael.
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Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
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