Replies

1. 
   RickL | Aug 31, 2005 12:53pm | #1

   Remove the hardware and soak in lacquer thinner or muriatic acid. Rubber gloves and good ventilation is required.  Birchwood Casey brass black is avaible in many gunshops to patina the cleaned off brass.

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   Edited 8/31/2005 9:03 am ET by RickL

   
   

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   Edited 8/31/2005 11:58 am ET by RickL

1. 
   JohnWW | Aug 31, 2005 06:05pm | #3

   You probably mean soaking in lacquer thinner, not lacquer.  Most bright finished brass is coated with lacquer to prevent tarnishing, so removing the lacquer is the first step in antiquing the brass.

   John W.

1. 
   RickL | Aug 31, 2005 07:00pm | #4

   Oops! Correct. Did a lot of this type of work when I worked as a metalsmith. We redid a lot of hardware and made lamps and all kinds really interesting stuff.

2. 
   cactusron | Aug 31, 2005 07:24pm | #5

   Thanks to all - that really helps. I'm trying to get away from the bright brass look and a bit more craftsman style. Any idea what I might expect to see in terms of metal under a Schlage lockset? Mucho gracias from Arizona!Ron

   Edited 8/31/2005 12:35 pm ET by cactusron

1. 
   RickL | Aug 31, 2005 07:55pm | #6

   Unless it's a real expensive one it's going to be brass plating  over steel but it can still be patinated.  Actually they coat them with something stronger than lacquer but the acid or lacquer thinner will work. The acid is quicker. Get some Birchwood Casey and experiment. Scotchbrite will be nice to ajust the tone of the patina. I'm sure you've seen some of the Schlage handsets with the brushed bronze look.

1. 
   cactusron | Sep 02, 2005 10:14pm | #7

   Thanks Rick,I'll give the acid a try this weekend. I'm going to use it full strength and not remove the lock mechanism. Hope that's OK? I'll then finish it off the way you suggested.I'll let you know how it came out.Thanks again,
   Ron

2. 
   BenM | Aug 31, 2005 02:46pm | #2

   FWW Issue 121 (Nov/Dec 1996) has an article about antiquing hardware by Gary Rogowski.