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Q&As since 1989


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Where to Buy Liver of Sulfur

2001

Can anybody tell me were I can buy Liver of Sulfur? I am working on an old house and I lost the screws to some of the door hinges. I want to try to make the new brass screws prematurely tarnish so that they won't stand out so much. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

John D'Alessandro
- Wayne, New Jersey

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Try RioGrande [Albuquerque, NM]

Neil Bell
Red Sky Plating

Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Hi John,

Make your own!

Mix 50% solution Caustic 1 to 1 with water
Bring to a low boil
Add 1/2 to 3/4 lbs sulfur [affil links] per 1 gallon of solution and continue to boil until sulfur is dissolved.

(Sulfur is readily available over-the-counter at most pharmacies)

Gayle Coffey
Metalx Specialty Products / Ronatec

Fallbrook, California

Any special type of Caustic? And where do you get that?

Chris Jensen
- Lake Forest, Illinois
2006

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Not to argue with someone as smart as Mrs. Coffey, but this procedure of boiling liquid caustic is for experienced industrial users with personnel protective equipment and hazmat training, Chris. '50% Caustic' means liquid (sodium hydroxide) which is marketed at that strength in 55-gallon drums by chemical distributors [liquid caustic soda in bulk on Amazon] . Good luck.

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

Contenti.com has Liver of sulfur $12.90 for 1/2 lb can and it comes in lump just dissolve in warm water! Good luck.

Massiel F
- Coventry, Rhode Island
March 6, 2008

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Liver of sulfur won't patina brass. It only works on copper and silver.
You will need a brass toner with selenium in it. Rio Grande in Albuquerque has it. Good luck!

Melissa Manley
- Wilmington, North Carolina
September 4, 2008

Try going to Michaels and getting a patina solution/paint for brass. Even just rubbing some brown/black latex paint on it and rubbing it lightly before it gets really dry may help too. Much less toxic and not at all dangerous for your health

Nancy Luna
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
December 18, 2008