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Q&As since 1989


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Oxidizing brass coins with black or other colors

Hi, I am making coins of brass and want to oxidize the inside to a black, I would like to know if there is something safe I can use (Work at home) and also can I oxidize to a red or other colors. Also how would I use it when I want to oxidize the engraved background and not affect the raised symbols. Can work in the Garage also. Thanks so much for any help!

Lori S
Coins - Appleton, Wisconsin
2005

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Full name please, Lori. This is not an anonymous service. For black, try getting the coins really clean then putting them inn a plastic baggie with crushed hard boiled eggs overnight. One of our readers, James Watts, suggested this for silver coins years ago and it's a very popular response for blackening now.

There is no technique for doing just the recesses. You do the whole coin, then buff the black off the high spots.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005

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I have to replace several brass snaps on a fabric vehicle cover on which all the other snap heads have a nice brown patina from natural aging. What can I use to oxidize the new brass snap heads to match the old ones? I have read about liver of sulfur [on eBay or Amazon] . Is that a good option? (I don't want them to be black.)

Kevin Scrivo
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2007