I'm new here (who do I see about a raise?) and have a question that I
hope this group can address.
I cut a new doorway into my upstairs, even found an old gumwood door to
fit. Found a pair of old glass doorknobs that match the rest of my house.
The problem is the brass (probably plated) surround plate, and the
striker plate. There nice and shiny and I need for them to look 60
years old, sort of a tarnished green like the rest of the house.
I know enuf to strip the lacquer first, but then what? How do I
artificially age the thin layer of whatever it is to look like (almost)
antique brass?
Any ideas?
On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 00:44:52 GMT, "Jim," <[email protected]> calmly
ranted:
>I'm new here (who do I see about a raise?) and have a question that I
>hope this group can address.
>
>I cut a new doorway into my upstairs, even found an old gumwood door to
>fit. Found a pair of old glass doorknobs that match the rest of my house.
>
>The problem is the brass (probably plated) surround plate, and the
>striker plate. There nice and shiny and I need for them to look 60
>years old, sort of a tarnished green like the rest of the house.
>
>I know enuf to strip the lacquer first, but then what? How do I
>artificially age the thin layer of whatever it is to look like (almost)
>antique brass?
>
>Any ideas?
Boil 'em in water, then pee on them.
--
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Ban SUVs today! -|- Full Service Websites
Unisaw A100 wrote:
> I have heard urine will patina copper. Hey! What could it
> hurt to give it a try?
Yeah, piss on it is the oldest trick in the book. Piss on it, then let it
dry. Repeat. It doesn't work if you just let it sit in a jar of piss.
It's piss + air that makes the magic happen.
It doesn't really work that great IMHO, and surely there must be better
solutions. Like polishing all the old brass in the house and shining it up
already. Brass is supposed to be shiny dammit!
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/
"Jim," <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm new here (who do I see about a raise?) and have a question that I
> hope this group can address.
>
> I cut a new doorway into my upstairs, even found an old gumwood door to
> fit. Found a pair of old glass doorknobs that match the rest of my house.
>
> The problem is the brass (probably plated) surround plate, and the
> striker plate. There nice and shiny and I need for them to look 60
> years old, sort of a tarnished green like the rest of the house.
>
> I know enuf to strip the lacquer first, but then what? How do I
> artificially age the thin layer of whatever it is to look like (almost)
> antique brass?
>
You might search on "antiquing brass" or such for more controllable methods
than those suggested, like
http://www.constantines.com/browseproducts/Brass-Antiquing-Solution.HTML
http://www.metalantiquing.com/
We old guys who have lost a lot of range use them instead.
"Unisaw A100" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I have heard urine will patina copper. Hey! What could it
> hurt to give it a try?
>
Should he take it off the door before applying?
"Jim," <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm new here (who do I see about a raise?) and have a question that I
> hope this group can address.
>
> I cut a new doorway into my upstairs, even found an old gumwood door to
> fit. Found a pair of old glass doorknobs that match the rest of my house.
>
> The problem is the brass (probably plated) surround plate, and the
> striker plate. There nice and shiny and I need for them to look 60
> years old, sort of a tarnished green like the rest of the house.
>
> I know enuf to strip the lacquer first, but then what? How do I
> artificially age the thin layer of whatever it is to look like (almost)
> antique brass?
>
> Any ideas?
Try downloading David Marks materials list for his 100 Series shows.
He made a cooper top table (#111) that he patina(ed?) the copper.
Here is the link to his site:
http://www.djmarks.com/woodworks.asp
Good Luck,
Phil Davis
247PalmBeachRE.com
"Jim," <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm new here (who do I see about a raise?) and have a question that I
> hope this group can address.
>
> I cut a new doorway into my upstairs, even found an old gumwood door to
> fit. Found a pair of old glass doorknobs that match the rest of my house.
>
> The problem is the brass (probably plated) surround plate, and the
> striker plate. There nice and shiny and I need for them to look 60
> years old, sort of a tarnished green like the rest of the house.
>
> I know enuf to strip the lacquer first, but then what? How do I
> artificially age the thin layer of whatever it is to look like (almost)
> antique brass?
>
> Any ideas?
Hi Jim,
Here is some information on the patina process:
http://www.skyartstudio.com/copper-patina-chart.php
I searched Google for COPPER PATINA and found that there are chemical
solutions available from stained glass suppliers that will give you the look
you want. There was a DIY website that had you mix a bunch of different
chemicals to make a patina solution, but warned that the solution was rather
toxic.
There have been anecdotal comments about beer produced urine hastening the
process (as noted by the many helpful comments). The sulfides and sulfates
in the beer are what is reported to cause the reaction.
If you want that bright green-blue copper sulfate look, you can quickly
achieve it with a dilluted solution of sulfuric acid. You can get sulfuric
acid at your paint center or hardware/home improvement store ... it's sold
to etch concrete floors. If you haven't worked with acids, I would not
recommend this process. Also, Copper Sulfate is a poison, don't eat the
pretty crystals ( and they do look good enough to eat!).
If you want a brown patina, try soaking in vinegar overnight, then wash and
dry.
For the amount of copper you described, you may be best served by visiting a
stained-glass shop and ask their opinion. If you bring a piece you are
trying to match, they'll be better able to point you in the right direction.
HTH
Rick
On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 23:28:29 -0500, Silvan
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Yeah, piss on it is the oldest trick in the book. Piss on it, then let it
>dry.
Lousy way to patinate it though !
You want either horse piss (the feed has an influence, but I don't
know quite what) or the piss of a pregnant woman collected in the
morning. Cow is useless, and pig is too hard to collect. Surprisingly
my references fail me on the efficacy of sheep or donkey. Failing
this, buy some strong .880 ammonia, as that's the active ingredient.
Then _don't_ dip the brass in it. Instead you put it in a sealed
plastic box full of wood shavings (clean dry softwood) with the liquid
at the bottom, and you let the _vapour_ do the work. Actual liquid
contact will give you a blotchy finish.
Google too. We did this a week or two back.
--
Smert' spamionam