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Bronzing bathroom fixtures

I have bathroom fixtures that are stylistically fairly current, but their finish is bright brass or gold, a look that is more than 30 years old. Is it possible to change the finish on sink, shower and tub fixtures from a bright gold or brass to a dark mission bronze or oil-rubbed antique bronze? If it is possible, would there be local facilities that can do this work, or is it so specialized that only a few national concerns are capable of doing it?

Douglas Rudman
hobbyist - Carrollton, Texas, USA
February 24, 2009

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February 24, 2009

Hi, Douglas. Although some plating shops are mass production factories and unable to do individual parts for consumers, you should be able to find a shop reasonably locally who can do this for you. The biggest issue will be that is will probably cost more than you expect. Your natural question will be "how can it cost as much to color these things as to buy new ones?". But the fact is, labor is the biggest cost of everything, and new fixtures are produced hundreds or thousands at a crack, whereas time must be invested in your fixtures.

Regards,

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