How to age brass?

[Stubert]

I am removing some large brass tacks in my rifle and am replacing them with some small brass nails. I would like to age the heads before installing them. I saw a post on ageing brass but can not seem to find it. Do any of you guys know the procedure? Thanks, Stubert

 

[Black Hand]

The small brass nails probably have a finish on them (keeps them from tarnishing). I would suggest soaking them in mineral spirits (or something similar) to remove the coating. Also heating them to burn off the coating works well. They should age very nicely after treating. They can be aged with dirty patches left over from cleaning your barrel (powder residue) or using a paste of black powder and water. Watch out for the wood, as this can "haze" the finish sometimes.

Beware that some of the brass nails from the hardware store are only brass-plated, but it should be stated somewhere on the package. With these plated nails the brass wears off quickly and is silver-colored underneath.

 

[bwhoffman]

I have tried a couple of methods, learned from this forum....
1. you can wipe them with a dirty patch after wiping your bore. works OK, multiple applications.
2. suspend ABOVE liquid level in a can/jar containing household ammonia. the vapors do some neat stuff to age it. it dulls it, takes the shine away. I like this method, used a plastic coffee can and suspended everything with fishline.

 

[rich pierce]

very quick way is to anneal them. heat to dull red and dunk in water.

 

[LRB]

The fastest method is "BRASS BLACK" from Birchwood- Casey. Almost instant. Back it off with OOOO steel wool.

 

[renovato]

The coating they use on brass is lacquer. Soaking in lacquer thinner will remove it. I've had to strip it off brass in the past and it's pretty easy to do.

 

[4bore]

HOW TO AGE BRASS?

SUBJECT IT TO MY KIDS WORKED ON AGING ME :rotf: :blah:

 

[wszumera]

The small brass nails probably have a finish on them (keeps them from tarnishing). I would suggest soaking them in mineral spirits (or something similar) to remove the coating.

When I was in the Marines we used ammonia to remove the 'quartermaster' coating from our brass belt buckles.

Clutch

 

[BLAHMAN]

I am removing some large brass tacks in my rifle and am replacing them with some small brass nails. I would like to age the heads before installing them. I saw a post on ageing brass but can not seem to find it. Do any of you guys know the procedure? Thanks, Stubert

Here is some "aged" brass:

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I did this by heating the brass with a propane torch and then sprizting (with a used toothbrush) and daubing (with a cloth) some BC cold blue.

You may wish to age the nail heads by a few dents, chips or breaks to add to an aged appearence.

 

[Razz]

I used BC Cold Blue on mine too. A few coats and then rubbed it back with some 0000 steel wool.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Maybe you could post some more photos of that gun? Please?

 

[BLAHMAN]

Maybe you could post some more photos of that gun? Please?

Ok......

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