Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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How to get 10B finish ?
2003
Q. Hi ,
I read about the book "The Colouring, Bronzing & Patination of Metals" [on eBay, Amazon, AbeBooks affil links] on this website. I have a few questions, if someone could please answer them.
1) Is the Oil Rubbed Bronze or the 10B finish, a patina finish ?
2) Does this book cover how to get the 10B finish on brass, copper, aluminum and steel objects ?
From what one company in Canada told me, that 10B is achieved using Electrophoretic lacquer (matte), with a 'dye' of that color. Now I don't have the necessary resources to setup or even maintain an Electrophoretic plant, Is it possible to achieve this finish any other way? We currently use spray lacquer both glossy/bright as well as satin/matte on different products.
Your reply would be highly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ramakant Desai- India
A. We produce a US10B finish with a dip process. It is an antique process that darkens (oxidizes) the brass substrate. The US Standard calls for using bronze substrate, but we have always used brass for our products.
This is accomplished on a brushed brass surface. You can get a range of colors from light brown to dark brown, almost black. It depends on the color you want. Concentration, time and temperature controls the color. It takes us about three minutes in the 10B dip process. We then remove the 'soot' by carefully washing each part by hand. We allow the parts to dry and we either use an oil or wax product which we hand apply on the part - or we lacquer it (with lacquer its called '21 finish). Several companies make chemicals that produce this finish. One such company is EPI / Electrochemical Products Inc. [a finishing.com supporting advertiser].
Gloria J. Schwedler- Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
2003
Q. Am I understanding there is a way to get the oil rubbed bronze finish on brass?
I am redoing my house and changing out the doors this includes...the hinges and doorknobs. I have the knobs purchased in oil rubbed bronze (the finish is VERY DARK, flat and slightly oily.
I'd love to find a way to take my current brass hinges and give them the same finish..is this something I can do myself?
Thank you for any help in advance!
Debbie D [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Spencer, Indiana
2003
A. Brass naturally tarnishes, Debbie, which means that if your brass hinges are bright, they are protected with some finish. The first step is to remove that finish. If it's lacquer it will come off with lacquer thinner ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] Warning! highly flammable! . If that doesn't remove it, you need to experiment to see what (if anything) will, perhaps the rather toxic Aircraft Stripper
Then you can darken the brass with liver of sulfur ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , brass darkening solution ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , or maybe a Jax Patina [affil links]. But just because the hinges look like brass isn't positive proof that they are, so there is danger of making things worse. Once you have the hinges dark brown or black, if you have some artistic skill you can buff up the highlights so they come out lighter or even brass colored.
Letter 34482 is answered by "La Kromadora", owner of a jobshop that offers oil-rubbed bronze, and explains exactly what it is and how they do it. Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. Is there a good process for applying a US 10B (613) finish over stainless steel?
John Blodgett- New Braunfels Texas, USA
August 17, 2012
A. Hi John.
One such process would be Wood's nickel strike to activate the stainless steel, then copper plating and the rest of the process described by La Kromadora per link mentioned above. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
August 18, 2012
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