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New brass has a shiny golden color, but over time it will tarnish and develop a thin green, brown or reddish outer layer, known as patina. If you like the old look of antique brass, there are many ways to make a piece look old or new. Read on to choose a method that’s right for your purposes and know how to prep your brass to ensure the aging process is effective.
Steps
Prepare the brass
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Make sure your item is brass. Some other metals also have a similar appearance to brass, but they will react differently when older methods are used. Your item can get corroded if you use the wrong method, so you should take it to an antique store or ask a professional if you can’t identify it yourself.
- Clean brass has a bright golden brown color. The metals that most resemble brass are copper with a brown or rose-brown color, and bronze with a much darker brown color. [1] X Research Source
- Brass is mildly magnetic, but it reacts only markedly with strong magnets. If a small piece of magnet is firmly attached to the surface of the item, you may have something in your hand that is another metal plated with a thin layer of brass.
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Know what to do if your item isn’t brass. If your piece only has an outer brass finish, try a milder method like vinegar or salt water, as strong chemicals can corrode the thin plating. If you want to make old copper, check out the instructions here. To refinish bronze, you can purchase a solution that “shrinks bronze” and follows the product’s instructions.
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If the surface of the brass item has a glossy finish, you will need to remove the polish with a nail polish remover. Gloss is a hard, transparent finish that protects the brass surface from oxidation, which is the process you’re trying to perform or emulate. Apply nail polish remover (also called acetone) to the item to remove the polish. [2] X Research Source
- Wear rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling toxic fumes.
- Soak small items in acetone.
- Use a paint brush to apply chemicals on large items, remember to cover every crevice.
- Methyl alcohol, a paint remover or a solvent for paint polish will also work.
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Pour hot water over the item that has been treated with nail polish remover. Wait a few minutes or until the polish peels off or melts. Wash the item with hot water to remove the polish.
- Double check to make sure there are no traces of polish left on the surface of the item. Modern brass is often protected by a hard coat of polish that will have to be cleaned several times before it is completely clean.
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If there is only a thin layer of polish or no finish, you can wash with milder detergents. If the item is greasy or has a thin layer of shine on the surface, you can clean it with a rag dipped in rubbing alcohol or a mixture of half vinegar and half water. With untreated brass, simply washing with soap and water is enough to prepare for the aging process.
- Wear gloves even if you’re using skin-safe cleaning products, as the oil in your hands can stick to the brass and make it less effective.
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Dry thoroughly before continuing. Wait until the brass surface is completely dry before starting the old process. A hair dryer, torch or oven can help speed up this process.
- Be careful when applying heat to brass that has just removed the polish. If you miss a patch of glossy paint, it could catch fire or emit toxic gases. Dry brass in a well-ventilated area and without flammable objects nearby.
- Now you can use any of the methods described below. If you are not sure which method to use, read the first step of each method to choose which method is most beneficial.
Use salt water or vinegar
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Use vinegar or salt water to age brass easily and safely. Any household vinegar or a solution of table salt and water can be used to age brass. This method may take longer than other methods – hours if vinegar is used, and days if salt water is used – but you won’t have to work with hazardous chemicals, plus these ingredients probably won’t work. already in your kitchen.
- Prepare the item in advance as described above to ensure success.
- Wear rubber gloves when performing any method to prevent oil from getting onto the surface of the item.
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Brush with salt water to darken the brass. The solution mixed with one part table salt and one part water will oxidize the brass, speeding up the natural aging process of the brass. You can use a paint brush to brush salt water over the entire surface of the item and repeat daily until you achieve the desired result.
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Use vinegar for more visible results. Use a vinegar brush or dip the item in any vinegar. Wait for it to dry, then apply another coat of vinegar if you want a darker color.
- Mix a teaspoon of table salt with the vinegar to create a greener patina.
- You can heat the brass with a hair dryer or put it in the oven at 230ºC for more noticeable results, but be sure to wear heat resistant gloves.
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Use vinegar vapor for a warm brown color. This method may not bring out the authentic look of old brass as when using ammonia or a specialized aging solution, but many people love the “gingerbread” color it produces. Anyway, this way is safe and cheaper than other methods.
- Pour vinegar into a plastic bucket with a tight-fitting lid.
- Place wooden blocks or other objects in the bucket to form a stable, dry surface over the vinegar surface.
- Place the brass item on top.
- Cover the bucket tightly to keep the vinegar vapor inside and leave it there for a few hours or overnight.
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Whichever method you use, you need to wash the item with warm water and dry it. After achieving the desired result (it may take several repetitions), you need to wash the brass with warm water. Dry gently with a towel or use heat.
- Once the item is dry, you can leave it as it is or apply a coat of brass polish or wax to the surface.
Use a special cleaning solution
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Buy a solution to make old brass fast. This method is the fastest of all methods, but you need to buy specialized products. These products are sold under the name brass aging solution . Each product brand will create a different look, but the process is similar.
- Always follow the instructions in the “Preparing Brass” section before starting this method.
- This is not the right method if you are not sure your item is brass. See “Using vinegar or salt water” above.
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Wear rubber gloves and safety goggles and work in a well-ventilated area. The solutions you are about to use contain a variety of chemicals, many of which can be harmful to skin and eyes or emit toxic vapors. Protect yourself with protective gear and open windows before you begin.
- Be especially careful if the product contains the following hazardous chemicals: ammonium hydroxide, glacial acetic acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid.
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Dilute the solution according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Read the product label carefully. Some solutions may require no dilution, while others require up to 10 parts water to 1 part solution. Use cold water and mix in a ceramic or plastic container large enough to submerge the brass item.
- Do not use containers made of other metals, as the acid in the solution can corrode the metal.
- Do not overfill the container. You need to leave room to soak the item in without spilling.
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Wear gloves and shake the brass object back and forth in the solution. Soak the item in the solution and shake it back and forth to dislodge air bubbles. Make sure the solution covers the entire item but does not reach near the cuff of the glove.
- Air bubbles that adhere to the brass surface will create bright spots of unrefined color.
- Flip the item back and forth to expose it more to the solution.
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Watch the item change color and take it out when it has the color you want. The item will begin to change color after a few seconds or minutes, from pink to red to brown to black. Take out the item when you see it has reached the color you aim for.
- If you want to lighten the surface color of the item (see below), you should allow the brass to turn a little darker than intended.
- Don’t worry that you will damage the item. If you have taken the item out too soon, simply soak it again and shake it again. If removed too late, you can use a scouring pad or steel wool to gently scrub to remove the color and re-soak.
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Wash the item to lighten the color (optional). Rinse with hot water and scrub off white powder with a sponge or Scotch-brite scouring pad. Your brass will be lighter and shinier than the uniform, dark patina when first removed from solution.
- If you want to create a black or almost black patina, you will get better results by dipping the item in the solution 2 or 3 times and rinsing after each dip.
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Dry. When you are satisfied with the color of the item, dry it immediately. The wet areas will be darker as they dry out than the rest. Use a paper towel or rag to dry, as the color may stick to the rag.
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Apply polish or wax to preserve existing color (optional). Polishing or other products to finish the surface of brass will help prevent the brass from further aging. You should use this method if the item is frequently touched or if you want to keep the existing color.
Using ammonia vapor
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Use ammonia occasionally for the most natural old look. Aminiac is a corrosive that requires care, but it can give brass a more natural old-fashioned greenish brown color than all other methods.
- Ammonia eventually evaporates from the surface of the brass, so you’ll have to repeat the process every time the brass returns to its original color. How long it takes depends on the quality of the item.
- This method will not be successful if you do not take the steps to prepare the brassware first.
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Buy ammonia and buckets with tight-fitting lids at the hardware store. You will need “concentrated” or “clear” ammonia, not the diluted household ammonia commonly sold at the supermarket. Hardware stores also sell buckets with tight-fitting lids.
- For small brass objects, you can use glass jars with tight-fitting lids instead of buckets. Tie a string to the item and hang a small amount of ammonia over it, screwing the lid on tightly to keep the string and the ammonia vapor inside.
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Wear rubber gloves and goggles and work only in a well-ventilated area. Ammonia releases toxic vapors and must not be inhaled. You should work outdoors if possible, or in a well-ventilated room.
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Place the logs on the bottom of the bucket. You need to create a “shelf” large enough to place the brass object on. Use plywood sheets or to place large items on top of wooden blocks for stability.
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Pour ammonia into the bucket. Pour ammonia into the bucket so that it is lower than the top board. You don’t need to use as much ammonia, but more ammonia will speed up the reaction.
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Place the brass item on top of the “wooden shelf”. Make sure the item is firmly placed and there is no danger of falling into the ammonia. If the item is dropped, wear gloves to pick it up and wash it with warm water. Dry before placing back in bucket.
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Seal the bucket lid and check it from time to time. Depending on temperature, humidity, quality of ammonia and quality of brass, the aging process can take several hours. You should check in about an hour to see how progress is going, being careful not to breathe in the ammonia vapors.
- Open the bucket lid slightly and give it a quick glance, then close the lid tightly to keep the ammonia vapor inside.
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Place the item in a ventilated area to dry. When the brass item has the desired color, you should let it dry naturally in a ventilated place. Apply wax if you want more shine.
- The aging effect of ammonia is only temporary, so it’s probably not a good idea to apply polish as you’ll have to remove the polish to get the item old again.
- You can use this ammonia to treat other brass items, but the ammonia eventually wears off and must be replaced.
Advice
- If you have the right lab equipment and knowledge of chemistry, you can make your own brass aging solution. Test the new solution on a small corner before applying it to the entire surface of the item, as this list is compiled from a variety of sources.
- Whichever method you use, you can wax or polish your brass once it’s dry so it doesn’t continue to age.
- Use water to speed up the aging process of brass. Put your item in a container and fill it with as much water as you see fit and let the water evaporate gradually. This method may not work the first time and you must repeat if necessary. If you want to clean brass before doing all the old methods, you can read articles on how to clean metal by electrolysis to make it safer and easier. If you want the item not to be too old, you can brush or spray a layer of transparent material on the surface of the brass.
- Another method is to simply use and display the brass as usual and let things happen naturally. The patina won’t form as quickly as you would with methods of aging brass, but the results should be similar. When worn by time, brass items used outdoors will have a patina layer, while decorative brass will turn bronze and then a beautiful matte black color if left for long enough.
- You can use ammonia by placing the brass item in a garbage bag with an ammonia rag, then twisting it tightly. This method is easier but not generally recommended, as it creates only a thin patina and can be uneven if the weather is hot and humid.
Warning
- If you’re not sure if something is brass, take it to a thrift store or professional to ask. Copper, bronze or brass-plated items can be damaged by using old methods.
- Do not use Clorox or sodium hypochlorite solution to age brass. This solution is more hazardous and difficult to control than the above methods.
- If the magnet is attracted to your “brass” object, it is most likely another metal underneath the brass plating. You can also age the item, but be gentle when scrubbing and use only a small amount of the chemical. If you handle it too hard, the plating can corrode and expose the other metal underneath.
Things you need
Prepare the brass
- Brass objects
- Rubber gloves
- Acetone, paint thinner or paint remover (if the item has a glossy finish)
- Vinegar, rubbing alcohol, or soap and water (if the item is unpolished)
- Heat source (for quick drying)
- Small magnet (if not sure it’s brass)
Use vinegar or salt water
- Rubber gloves
- Table salt or vinegar (any kind)
- Water
- Small paint brush
- Plastic bucket with tight-fitting lid (optional)
Use old cleaning solution
- Brass aging solution
- Water
- Ceramic or plastic containers
- Goggles
- Rubber gloves
- Well ventilated area
- Scotch-brite scouring pad or plastic scouring pad
- Towel
Using ammonia vapor
- Plastic bucket with tight-fitting lid
- Well ventilated area
- Ammonia
- Rubber gloves
- Goggles
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New brass has a shiny golden color, but over time it will tarnish and develop a thin green, brown or reddish outer layer, known as patina. If you like the old look of antique brass, there are many ways to make a piece look old or new. Read on to choose a method that’s right for your purposes and know how to prep your brass to ensure the aging process is effective.
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