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Letter 23377
How can I tarnish brass.
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Hello, I am an artist and I incorporate found objects
into my art work. Some of which are brass fittings, keys,
etc. . I do not like the finish of the brass. Can anyone
direct me to a product that I can apply to these pieces that
will tarnish the brass. I asked today and found all products
on how to clean. How can I tarnish brass. Thank you. Lisa
Grant
Lisa Grant
- Dripping Springs, Texas, USA
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Black for brass:
2oo gm cooper carbonate
1 lit ammonia /
25%/ Cold immersion!
Brown for brass:
5 gm cooper sulphate
5o gm potassium permanganate
1 lit water Hot immersion(9o C)!2-5 min.
Yellowishbrown to orangered for brass
100 gm cooper sulphate
5o gm sodium chlorate
1 lit water Hot immersion (9oC)!
Goran Budija
- Zagreb ,Croatia
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Use liver of sulphur, can get it at art supplies stores
[Adv.
St. Louis Crafts Liver Of Sulphur 4 oz.
bottle ].
Simon Dupay
- Roseville, MN, USA
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Brass Darkening Solution [link is to product info at Rockler].
Paul
Civil War Relic Preservation - West Virginia
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I was to tarnish brass on my fireplace, which cannot be immersed.
Any ideas?
Debbie Cohen
- Montclair, New Jersey
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I wish to darken my brass frogs (about 2 feet high). They were
dark when purchased but the lawn people sprayed them with fertilizer
which pitted them. In trying to save them from this I covered them
with tomato paste which then removed the darkness (exposing bright
brass) in a spotty way. I would like to preserve them and get them
back to the way they were. Wish to do this myself in the safest
manner possible. I am a senior citizen.
Toba Saskor
- Pinehurst, NC USA
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Hello, Toba. The safest manner possible is to hire a craftsperson
who knows what they are doing. If you want to patina brass yourself
you can wait for the elements, or you need to use a chemical that is
powerful enough to do what you want done.
The reaction colors vary greatly depending on what reagents you
use; you may be able to get some sort of green with vinegar and salt,
but if you want brown-black you'll probably have to use the homebrew
recipes offered by Mr. Budija, or the commercial liver of sulphur or
brass darkening solutions that have already been suggested. Good
luck.
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Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
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I have a pair of solid brass dog tags with an engraved logo. The
logo engraved is black, and I got my name engraved, but I don't know
how to make the engraved part look black like the rest of it.
I want to tags to look tarnished, but now that they do, you can't
read my name because it is the same shade as the tarnish rather than
black. Anyone know how to fix that? I really appreciate any help you
can give.
Thanks,
Tracy Powell
- Tallahassee, FL ,USA
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It may be more than you want to tackle or have the skills
to tackle, Tracy, but the way it is done is to blacken the
whole item with the previously mentioned recipes or
purchased chemicals, and then "relieve" the body of the tag,
leaving the engraved area black. Relieving involves
buffing/polishing away the patina from the raised areas.
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Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey |
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I own an antique chandelier that has areas of polished
brass and some of oxodized brass. The dark areas are
actually black. I need to blacken an area to match what was
previously blackened. My question is this. Will liver of
suolphur darken or blacken brass? I have never worked with
it, but notice the cautions for proper ventilation warnings.
Carole S.
Roberson
Antiques dealer - East Berlin, PA, U.S.A.
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I have a set of Polished brass lamps that I would like to
darken. Is there a necessary treatment to remove any coating
on them? They have never tarnished after lots of handling in
the last 20 years. There are little balls on the pull chains
that HAVE tarnished. Also can any of the previously
mentioned treatments by brushed on to avoid imersion? After
the darkening process, is it necessary to coat with anything
else? Has anyone simply tried painting brass? I know, but I
don't claim to be a purist, I just want to darken the shine
for decorating purposes.
Elaine Cook
hobbyist - Grand Rapids, MI, USA
April 24, 2008
How do you clean and "blacken" a brass or brassplated bed
using Liver of Sulfur?
Loretta Cahoon
hobbyist - Daphne, Alabama
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