How to Make Brass Look Antique

Even new brass can look antique

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It is generally golden in appearance and distinguished from bronze, which is copper and tin. Brass is often prized for its brilliance, but there are several techniques you can use to antique brass, effectively dulling its shine and giving it an antique appearance.

Things You'll Need

• Clean cotton towels
• Brass polish
• Brass darkening solution

Instructions

1. Clean to remove dust and dirt from the surface. Use a clean cotton cloth and water to remove accumulated grime, and a cotton swab for the details. Gently dab the surface to remove excess moisture.

2. Apply brass cleaner to a cloth and gently rub the cloth over the brass item, taking care to not be too aggressive. Using another clean and dry cloth, rub off excess polish and buff the brass to make sure you have an even finish.

3. Apply a darkening solution with a soft towel. A darkening solution instantly antiques brass. Once you achieve the color that you want, you simply rinse the item in water and towel it dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Test the darkening solution in an area that is not readily visible.

• Use any chemicals in a well-ventilated area.

References

• Copper Development Association: Brass information
• Rockler: Brass darkening solution