Have you ever wanted to know how to to age brass and bronze? If you don’t want to wait for it to age naturally, I’ve got a little trick, using just a couple of household staples; that takes hours — rather than years — to work!
Aged Brass = Lots of Brass
We’ve been having the kitchen fitted over the last few weeks and I’ve been choosing all the hardware.
I’d set my heart on aged brass handles and knobs. But all of the ones I saw online were so expensive. We’re finally getting to the end of our house renovation and funds are low; especially with Christmas on the horizon! The pre-aged versions were way too much brass for me!
I remembered that, years ago, I used to age brass belt buckles using just salt and vinegar; so I decided to apply the same process to the kitchen hardware I’d bought.
It works a treat.
Just one word of warning before you start.
Make sure the brass or bronze that you plan to treat is unlacquered.
If it’s been coated, it won’t work. You’ll have to lightly sand off the surface coating first, using wire wool.
If you’d like to find out how to age brass and bronze with vinegar and salt, just follow these simple steps.
How To Age Brass and Bronze With Vinegar and Salt
You will need:
Household vinegar; white, malt, red/white wine, apple-cider — they all work!
Table-salt
A container with a tight-fitting lid
A paint brush
Wire brush or wire wool
Method:
- Pour a little vinegar in the bottom of your container. I never bother to measure how much — it changes depending on the size of the container.
You just need enough to cover the bottom. - Add a few pinches of salt. Again — there’s no hard or fast rule for the amount — just add a few sprinkles, then slosh it all around so the salt dissolves in the vinegar.
3. Next, dip your paintbrush in the brass ageing solution and paint it all over the bronze or brass that you’d like to age.
4. When you’ve covered the entire surface with a layer of the salt and vinegar solution, pop the item into your container and put on the lid.
Next
5. Every hour or so, you should turn the item.
Coat it in the salt and vinegar solution and make sure one area isn’t sitting in the solution and turning much darker than the others.
Although, to be honest, I really like the patina that it gives.
6. When you’re happy with the colour and patina of the metal, take it out of the salt and vinegar solution and give it a good rinse under the tap and dry thoroughly.
7. If there are any areas that you’re not happy with, give them a little buff with a wire brush or wire wool.
Some of my handles went quite pink, in areas, but they toned down when I gave them a rub with my wire brush.
And that’s all there is to it.
How to make shiny brass matte in one easy step!
I think it looks absolutely gorgeous! I’m sure there are lots of people who love the shiny brass (or bronze) finish handles on kitchen furniture. But, personally, I love a more lived in, vintage look.
I love our aged bronze cup handles. The patina goes beautifully with the soft green paintwork of the kitchen cupboards.
And I especially love the fact that it barely cost anything.
I’ve read loads of different ways of how to make shiny brass matte; everything from ageing brass with coffee, how to blacken brass by baking in the oven. And, even, ageing brass with oven cleaner.
All of these methods seem questionable to me.
Particularly when I know that the best — and easiest method of how to age brass is the one above.
Super simple. No fuss. And — best of all — it won’t cost lots of brass to do!
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Age Brass and Bronze With Vinegar and Salt
Have you ever wanted to know how to age brass and bronze? It's super easy using just salt and vinegar. Read my little tutorial to find out how.
Materials
- Household vinegar; white, malt, red/white wine, apple-cider — take your pick!
- Table-salt
Tools
- A container with a tight-fitting lid
- A paint brush
- Wire brush or wire wool
Instructions
- Pour a little vinegar in the bottom of your container. I never bother to measure how much — it changes depending on the size of the container. You just need enough to cover the bottom.
- Add a few pinches of salt. Again — there's no hard or fast rule for the amount — just add a few sprinkles, then slosh it all around so the salt dissolves in the vinegar.
- Next, dip your paintbrush in the salt and vinegar solution and paint it all over the bronze or brass that you'd like to tarnish.
- When you've covered the entire surface with a layer of the salt and vinegar solution, pop the item into your container and put on the lid.
- Every hour or so, you should turn the item. Coat it in the salt and vinegar solution and make sure one area isn't sitting in the liquid and turning much darker than the others.
- When you're happy with the colour and patina of the metal, take it out of the salt and vinegar solution and give it a good rinse under the tap. Then dry thoroughly.
- If there are any areas that you're not happy with, give them a little buff with a wire brush or wire wool.
Notes
Some of my handles went quite pink and orange in areas, but they toned down when I gave them a rub with my wire brush.
Likewise, if some areas are darker than others, just paint them with the liquid in the areas that need it most then pop the lid back on. At the end of the day, you can't go wrong! If you don't like how it turns out, just clean it with Brasso to restore the shine!