Antiquing / Darkening Brass

[roundball]

Following a tip about using Easy-Off to antique / darken brass, I experimented with one brass end of a left over GM ramrod...cleaned the end with Acetone, sprayed on the Easy-Off, let it sit a few hours while I ran some errands, then wiped off the chemicals and was amazed at how well it took.

I also checked to see if it would come off but it wouldn't...even Acetone wouldn't phase it, so it's a permanent color change.  Appears that the amount of "antiquing" and darkness can be controlled by the amount of Easy-Off, how it's applied, how long it's allowed to stay on the brass surface, etc.

I happen to like the power / strength / dependability of a brass under barrel ramrod, so next I'll experiment with a brass range rod to see how something that big turns out, then do an actual underbarrel rod.

BEFORE



AFTER

[Thumper]

Nice coloring, been wondering what to do for antiquing. Any idea how to get that old "mustard" color?

[roundball]

Sure don't...but something that worked this well but gave a nice dark walnut grain pattern would be great !!


I'm having a Virginia built and although it's going to have brass furniture, a 40" brass ramrod might not look quite right on a 1770's rifle...experimenting with this to see if I can disguise a brass rod...from this one little experiment alone, I'm betting a second coat will make all the brass disappear...I'll post that photo later;

UPDATE
Yes, it got darker but I needed to leave it another hour or spray it a 3rd time and leave it 

[Leathermonger]

If our looking for a less dark color, clean the brass with acetone, mek, lacquer thinner wahtever to get it good and clean and rmove any oils and fingerprints, then soak a folded up paper towel with amonia, suspend teh brass with a string in a mason jar and seal it up, start checking it after 4 hours for color, may take overnight to get the color you want, if you wipe it on direct it will look like the pic above and turn black.

[roundball]

"...suspend teh brass with a string in a mason jar and seal it up..."

Well, the tip on this leftover ramrod was just for a little test experiment...my target project is a 40" brass ramrod.

I wish I knew of an affordable place that had the technology to do like Easton does, when Easton permanently applies a wood grain finish to aluminum arrow shafts...

UPDATE:
Thought just occurred to me...wonder how it would work if I bought a 5'-6' length of 2" PVC pipe, glue capped the bottom end, poured in a quart of ammonia, suspended the ramrod down in the pipe, and sealed the top for 24 hours?

[Leathermonger]

probably work just fine RB!

[roundball]

I sure wish I knew of a chemical that would turn brass a dark chocolate brown like walnut or something instead of black

[Leathermonger]

Cany say Ive ever seen brass that was brown, sure dont know what chem that would be, sounds like a question to post on the ALR forum

[Steven9851]

try this link.   www.sciencecompany.com/patinas/patinaformulas.htm   

[2506]

found this one showing how to brown on a outdoor lamp. the penny brown mite be the trick.http://www.fxl.com/learning/patina.htm

[roundball]

Thanks for the chem links...the "Blackish-Brown" at the science company sounds interesting...I'm not looking for a typical brass patina look...definitely thinkiing about a dark color that at first glance would appear to be wood...or at least not brass.

Was talking to October Country today ordering brass range rods and he has some chemicals he can use on his brass rods to make them a dark brown...only a couple bucks per rod...told him to do one of the range rods so I could see first hand what it looks like before I order any underbarrel rods...I'll post pics when I get them if anybody's interested

[DandJofAZ]

Don't see the pictures yet..been thinking of drilling short dowl pieces and sliding them onto 1/4 steel rod then glue and sand..will this work or will they just chip off if rod flexs??

[DaveHawk]

I use a brass darkener for restoring period furniture, if you would lile I will post up the brand tomorrow when I get back into the shop

[Blackfeet]

I just made an underbarrel brass rod and it got black the first time I used it.. And I do mean black. I am thinking about turning it around and using the other end to even out the color as I tapped both ends 10-32 for cleaning jags and a T-handle. I will post pics if you would like

[Otter]

An old friend of mine used to go to the local pharmacy and have some livering solution made up to brown brass pieces on old cars that were being restored. As I recall there were some pretty toxic chemicals in it though. It was a permanent color change.