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How to get an antique finish on polished brass

I am an interior designer. I have specified a brass foot rail for a kitchen bar, but the finish is brass. I need a burnished or antique finish. What can I do?

Martha Dust
- North Little Rock, Arkansas
2005

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You should certainly try very hard to buy it in the finish you actually want, so we'll assume you did try that. The second option, if it's a high end piece, is to send it out to a plating shop; they will be familiar with all aspects of the issue. Brass darkening/antiquing requires the combination of artistic talent plus willingness to work with noxious stuff. But, in general, first you remove the lacquer (hopefully it's not a new high tech clearcoat finish but something that can be stripped in lacquer thinner ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] Warning! highly flammable! ). Then you darken it with liver of sulfur ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or brass darkening solution ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . Then you relieve the highlights by buffing away some of the darkening on the prominences. Then you either leave it or lacquer it again. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005

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Martha..don't despair! Our company has a excellent and simple to use product to give you the results your seeking..Please phone me and/or see out website. We specialize in patinas and metal finishes. Thanks, Barry Feinman, CEO

Barry Feinman
BarrysRestoreItAll

Carlsbad, California

2005