Letter 26032

Changing appearance of brass to satin chrome without plating? [California] 

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I'm trying to find a chemical compound or other solution to change the color of a 2" wide, 40" long brass bar that runs the length of my fireplace to a color and finish more like a satin chrome or nickel. Most of the metal plating companies in my area have closed, and the one or two that I have located do not accept jobs as small as mine. Can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks,

Carri O'Neill
homeowner - Corte Madera, CA, US

Unfortunately, brass is brass and chrome is chrome, and one is goldish while the other is silverish.

You may have to ship the item to get it plated. Labor is the biggest part of the cost of most things, and to replate a single item, spending a couple of hours in the process, will make it cost more than most consumers think it's worth. But if it's special to you, a plating shop can certainly do it.

Something that is dirt cheap and may or may not impart the look you want is a metallic wax rub [ Rub 'n Buff The Original Wax Metallic Finish [link is to product info at MisterArt]], probably only applicable if this is a decorative feature far removed from the fire and doesn't get hot.

 
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

Plating of a single item can be very expensive. You could try a can of high temperature aluminum paint. It can be moderately close to a satin finish.

James Watts
- FL

You can try with paste silvering or tinning!

Paste silvering recipe:

10 gm silver chloride
20 gm salt
20 gm cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate)

It must be rubbed on grease and oxide free object(with piece of leather or cork) and you must lacquer or wax it!Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Zagreb, Croatia

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