How to antique brass?

RHINOKNIVES

RHINOKNIVES

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hey guys, i am working on a period piece and i need to brown patina the brass hilt. any suggestions?
 
liver of sulphur will turn it black. maybe you could dilute the solution a little. .02$
take Care
TJ Smith:cool:
 
thaks TJ i know how to turn it black or green . brown is what i need help on. thanks for replying.
 
My GF did stained glass at one time and has many chemicals left over . One product is made by INLAND, Madison heights, Michigan. No address but arts and crafts places may be a place to look.
Mark
 
Laurence,

There is excellent book on bronze patinas is by Patrick Kipper...called Patinas for Silicone Bronze.

Here is a classic opaque brown (old penny)

Chemical: medium ferric nitrate solution plus a few crystals of sodium thiosulfate.

sandblast the work piece to clean and etch the surface. Heat with a torch untill an amber coloration appears...then dab on the ferric solution. Continue heating and dabbing until desired color is reached. While still warm, seal with wax. Buff.

I like to do a cold base coat with liver of sulfur first....then buff of the high spots. Then apply the hot ferric patina. This adds more depth and color. The dark grey/black under-coat gives the antique look, and buffing the high spots gives a lightly used/worn appearance. The result is darker colors in the crevices that blend to lighter colors on the high spots on the surface.

These chemicals are available at art suppliers for bronze sculptor. Here is one online source that I've used:
Johnson atelier
They are on the east coast, however there are a few other suppliers on the west coast that handle patina chemicals.

Good luck and have fun with it,

Rob
 
Not sure if it's what you're looking for, but I've used a product called Brass Black that I got through Brownell's. You can achieve a variety of colors from a dull, dirty tan to a deep black. Good stuff.
 
Down & dirty....soak the cleaned piece in sodium hypochlorite (CLR cleaner, or swimming pool Shock stuff), neutralize in baking soda & water, wax to protect.
 
I use Brass Black -- you can see the results in the photo. Follow the directions -- pay particular attention to cleaning first. Apply the chemical and let it sit for about a minute (which will turn the brass jet black). I then rinse it and let it cure overnight.

Next, I clean my buff wheel first with a rake, then with a scrap of wood. Then I LIGHTLY buff the surface using VERY LITTLE pressure until I get the patina I want. Next I apply a coat of wax.

I have found Brass Black at most gun shops.

Stag_Boot_Knife.jpg


John C. Ownby Handmade Knives
 
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