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Q&As since 1989


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Patinating powder coated brass

We want po boxes with an aged finish. They need to be new to comply with current postal requirements. We planned on specifying old fashioned brass po boxes from Salsbury Industries (L.A., CA). Their customer service dept indicated that the cast brass components are "powder coated". Any ideas on removing the powder coating so a finisher can chemically patinate the brass to brownish, aged bronze type appearance?

Andrew Bryant
architect - Charlotte, North Carolina
2005

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2005

Ideally, work with the manufacturer to have the finish you want applied initially, even if they have to send the operation off site. Removing powder coat is posssible but would be fairly expensive and then the part would just have to be powder coated or lacqured at the end of the new finishing cycle for wear resistance.

BTW, the brown and black oxide type patinas are generally referred to (by many) as antique finishes.

Gene Packman
process supplier - Great Neck, New York

There are many powder mfgs. who offer "aged" looking powders. I have worked with silver, gold and brown vein powders as well as patina powders. You may want to consider purching the powder you want applied yourself and working out the material cost differance with the manufacurer of the po boxes. If you go this route be sure you specify the end use of the po boxes to the powder vender, ie: indoor or out door use. Stripping off the orignial powder coat would surely not be cost effective. If none of this is acceptable you might try to purchase the po boxes unfinished and have a local shop finish them for you.

James C. Stairs
- Rockford, Illinois, USA
2005