Letter 16277

How to antique polished brass  

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We have fireplace tools in polished brass that we would like to change to an antique brass finish. Can you please tell us what we must do to change the polished finish to an antique brass finish?

Thanks,

Lise M
- Aurora, Ontario, Canada

++++ Did you get an answer to antiquing polished brass? Susan B [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting] - Flat Rock, NC ++++ I am wanting answer to question how to antique brass. Is there a way to do it with everyday ingredients or does it have to be done with stains and kits? Trudy C [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting] - Lyman, South Carolina, USA ++++++ Hi, I also want to know how to antique polished brass. My new house is full of it -ceiling fixtures, bath fixtures, outdoor fixtures, etc. Until I can afford to replace them, I'd like to know if there is a way to antique them, or at least make them less shiny. Alicia N [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting] - Parker, Colorado, USA ++++++ Have any of you gotten a reply on how to antique polished brass? Tricia L [name deleted for privacy by editor] - Houston, TX

Hi. Many very similar inquiries were asked & answered on this site. Some of those answers included "Brass Darkening Solution [link is to product info at Rockler]" and " Liver Of Sulphur [linked by editor to product info at MisterArt]". The readers who answered it already may have wearied.

For more ideas, search the site with terms like "patina brass", "darken brass", "shiny brass", and "antique brass" and you will find some other answers. Good luck!

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

An air tight bucket with a shelf of some sort and place the brass to be antiqued inside. since brass introduced to an ammonia based atmosphere acquires a natural patina.... it is fairly obvious now that all you need is white ammonia in the bucket as well. the process can take as long as minutes or days depending on desired look.

p.s. ammonia evaporates fairly fast so replace when you can barely smell any longer. just don't take a big ole whiff might make you sick n burn ur lungs.

Jeff Stover
- Cedar City, Utah

I tried the ammonia solution with some small jewelry charms I bought and it worked AMAZING! I just took some mesh/tulle and placed the charms in them, grabbed an old glass jar, filled it with household ammonia, layed the mesh over the top so that it was holding the charms above the ammonia, and screwed the lid on catching the mesh between the lid and the jar to hold it. I only let it sit for about 10 minutes and it did a great job. Check frequently as mine changed so quickly - the difference between the 5 minute mark to the 10 minute mark was substantial.

Good luck!

Heidi Busk
- Denver, CO, USA

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