How do I give shiny brass andirons an antique finish?
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Pat12420760
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Set is brand new and don’t want to damage it, but fireplace trim is antique brass
and the shiny brass just sticks out like the proverbial “sore thumb”!
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New brass may have a lacquer coating on it to prevent tarnishing, so you have a couple of options here:
1. remove the lacquer coating with mineral spirits and either allow it to tarnish naturally or use vinegar to do the job https://www.wikihow.com/Patina-Brass
2. leave the lacquer finish and find a metallic paint that mirrors the look you are going for. Clean the brass and then paint the brass, uh, brass.
CLEAN the brass with Brasso. If it has a finish on it, that will take it off... Then leave to Oxidise...........
100 Acetate ( like 'real' fingernail polish remover) will remove the lacquer finish and allow the brass to reach a natural patina -- use very soft cloths to apply so as not to scratch the brass -- it's VERY soft!
yes, you are correct - I realized that the minute I saw that you had responded --- vinegar works pretty well to polish brass, but I doubt that it would remove a commercially applied lacquer -- if you try it - let us know!