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Oil Rubbed Bronze

 

I just love the look of "oil rubbed bronze" but it is very hard to find in stores. Could I possibly buy a brass lever style door opener and remove the finish to give it that oil rubbed bronze look? I bought some brass candle holders and have experimented with muriatic acid ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] , and it is taking a while to remove the brass.

Can anyone help me?

Jennifer R [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Fort Worth, Texas

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Hello Jennifer,

An oil-rubbed bronze finish, also known as US 10B, is usually brass that has been oxidized or patinated to get that dark color. It's then rubbed with some kind of oil periodically to maintain the gloss over it, and I suppose to stop any more oxidation. I don't know if that would work too well on door handles, everybody using the door might walk away with an oily hand. I've seen door handles with a simulated US10B finish for sale all over the internet. Or if you want to learn a new hobby, there are a couple of books on patinas available through finishing.com's literature section.

Good luck,

Jake Koch
G. J. Nikolas &Co.,Inc.

Bellwood, Illinois

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Dear Sir,

I would like to know how can we induce patina on bronze surface artificially? How can we obtain an oil rubbed bronze finish on the bronze hardware?

Ajay V [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Ludhiana, India

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I have seen many products that are in hardware stores that have an aged oil rubbed bronze look. Would like to know if there is a way to put this effect upon my towel bar by using household or some type of sulfuric acids.

Daniel C [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
hobbyist - Rigby, Idaho, United States

"oil rubbed bronze" finish on CA 260 Brass. Earlier post mentioned liver of sulfur ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] to darken brass. Will this give a dark brown/black finish? Where to buy and where to learn how to apply? I'm a hobbyist making a set of cabinet doors. Another project---not oil rubbed---is there a matte lacquer for a rich golden finish?

Ken H [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
hobbyist - Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, USA
2006

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Here's a link to liver of sulfur ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] , and one to another brass darkening solution ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] . As a general instruction, these will turn brass or copper brown. Then you buff the "highlights" or raised area back to bright. That doesn't mean that I've done it, or that it's as easy as it sounds, or that this simple process will give you the depth and richness you seek; it's just a start. I'm not sure if there are matte lacquers readily available in spray cans or small bottles for consumers, but they certainly exist and are manufactured by the suppliers shown in the banner ad at the upper right corner of this page. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
2006

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Can anyone tell me what is the best material to use to create the (US10-B) oil rubbed bronze finish.

thanks

Kent S [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Northfield, Illinois, USA
2006

Hi, can anyone help me with process details of getting oil rubbed bronze finish on brass and zinc pieces ?

Nivesh S [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- New Delhi, India
2006

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Q. I am trying to get a dark bar-rail to match the oil-rubbed bronze hardware. Is there a way to simulate this finish with unlacquered brass tubing? [returning]

Eric J [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Edina, Minnesota
2006

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Q. I did some research and bought "Liver of sulfur" aka Potassium Sulfide ⇨
I bought the rock kind. I heated the water, warm to the touch and dissolved the rock turning the water yellow. I submerged the copper. It definitely turned the copper sheeting dark, but I am not getting the look that I was expecting.

The patina is really flaky and often rubs off quite easily. Its also a very bluish black, not the brownish black I was expecting. I was hoping the patina would be a bit more even and you could lightly sand it to show some hairline copper through the blackish patina yielding the oil rubbed bronze finish I am so found of.

I am using this on "copper shingles". These are 12" x 12", ~1/8" thick copper sheets. Could it be that they are not pure enough? They look as much copper as copper pipes, etc. This is suppose to work on bronze too and bronze is less copper than this has to be.

Anyone tried this and had better results? Any tips to share?

Josh Knechtel
- Jersey City, New Jersey
April 10, 2008

Q. Thanks, I really appreciate the info. I believe that you are likely correct about it not being clean enough. In fact I considered that myself. This is a hobby project and I am no chemist (nor a plater).

What is the pumice for? Is it pumice pebbles in a bucket of detergent water? Any particular type of detergent to use or not to use?

Josh

Josh Knechtel, [returning]
- Jersey City, New Jersey

Thanks again!

Josh Knechtel, again
- Jersey City, New Jersey
April 11, 2008

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Q. I am fabricating some leader heads from a 16 oz. copper and am trying to obtain a dark bronze finish. I have heard that peanut oil works to do this. Anyone have any experience in this field?

Rosemary Jacobs
sheet metal shop employee - Memphis, Tennessee
April 15, 2009

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Q. We put new oil-rubbed bronze outdoor fixtures (from Quoizel) on our house almost four years ago and they seem to be tarnishing or losing their lustre from being exposed to the sun.

Is there any way to restore these finishes?

Thanks.

Bruce Gainey
Hobbyist - Tulsa, OK, USA
July 9, 2009

Sorry! Finishing.com is temporarily Read-Only.
Ted Mooney is retiring but I have several offers to take it over.
We're working hard to make sure we find it the best new home.

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