Toning Shiny Fixtures Down
So, the old owner of my house installed oodles of very shiny “brass” light fixtures…it’s going to take me time and $$$ to replace. In the meantime, is there anything I can apply to the metal that will “antique” the finish so it’s not so brassy?
So, the old owner of my house installed oodles of very shiny “brass” light fixtures…it’s going to take me time and $$$ to replace. In the meantime, is there anything I can apply to the metal that will “antique” the finish so it’s not so brassy?
Dulling spray won’t change the color, just takes some of the shine off. I would use Japan color, the same thing that picture framers use to “antique” gold leaf frames. It is an oil-based artist color in a tube. Just wipe it on with a soft cloth, wipe a little off if it too dark. It will dry in a few hours so you have time to play with it. Don’t like it? Turpentine will remove it.
There are common solvents to remove lacquer, the commonest of which is called lacquer thinner aka acetone. As for dulling, many agents will work (besides expensive “dulling” solutions — just an excuse to charge you up the wassoo) and I’ve always been happy with the results I’ve gotten from using — no kiddin’ — oven cleaner.
Note steps 5/6 at the bottom of the page:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4499916_remove-lacquer-finish-from-brass.html
Also:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2126150_use-ammonia-clean-tarnished-brass.html
Try Van Dyck Restorers (sp?), Renovators’ Supply – google them, they’re online sources. In one of them I know I’ve seen “antiquing” fluid specifically for this purpose, and perhaps also a separate fluid to strip the lacquer. Maybe this is the same as the “dulling” spray others have mentioned, but I think it might be a different product and perhaps worth a look. If you don’t feel like doing the work yourself, I once spoke with a guy at http://www.antiqueplumber.com who said I could ship him any fixture and he would change the finish – e.g. from chrome to antique brass in my case, so very likely they could help you.
I hate shiny brass too – at least in houses where everything else looks old. I had to look high and low to find an uncoated brass faucet that would age attractively. My dad thinks the idea of buying something that will tarnish ON PURPOSE is nuts.
As my sister so often says: You can’t spell brass without “ass.”
Agree with binnyg- I’ve used it and it’s quite cool in certain applications. Dulling spray or a coating of matte acrylic varnish will work too (rough up the surface. Golden makes a great one. YOu can antique over that. Won’t last 100 years but I have the feeling you won’t be keeping the fixtures 100 years 🙂
Here’s the link to dulling spray…
http://www.krylon.com/products/dulling_spray
hammerite paint can give you an interesting finish that will not look like a bad faux finish.
just google hammerite. it’s for rust prevention, but some of the products like the black hammered metal finish are great looking
It really depends on the quality of the stuff. If it’s good quality I’d live w/ it until you get new things & then sell it – they can be expensive.
If it’s rubbish, the “lacquer” will be thin & easily permeated – probably even w/ just a coat of that dulling stuff & no labor on your part. As the instructions always say, try it in a small, out of sight, area first.