ETCH brass

 

Antique brass is a beautiful material that often remains unrestored because it gives old objects a deep and rich color and tone. Antifreeze occurs when oxygen reacts with moisture and other elements in the air to stain the metal surface. While some prefer the look of polished metal, patina and wear of the old brass is really more valuable when intact, since polishing literally removes the layers of the original metal, which can damage and weaken it. If you have antiques, it is important to know how to keep the old brass and keep it in the best possible conditions.

Under optimal conditions, brass begins a patina a few years after its completion and ages hundreds of years until brass becomes obsolete. The optimal conditions for proper brass aging are mild temperatures and moderate air humidity in coastal areas. Salt and moisture in coastal cities can break down brass so quickly that it can disintegrate in a few years. This is one of the reasons why ancient brass objects found in ancient cities near coastal areas are as fragile as dust balls, while brass, which has aged properly in the drier regions, It maintains its structural integrity and yet maintains the beautiful and rich brown. and it receives red color that so many antique collectors love and appreciate.

Old brass care

Improper cleaning and care of old brass can destroy it, especially if you want to preserve the natural beauty of this material. There are many chemical agents on the market that are specifically designed to keep the old brass in good condition, but are not up to the challenge. Maintaining old brass is a simple and delicate process that does not require aggressive chemical additives or treatments.

To clean old brass, you should only use warm soapy water and a microfiber cloth to remove dust and grease from the surface. Elbow grease is not necessary, since even the slightest friction between the rag fibers and brass can scrape the surface patina, which can cause oxygenation in the deeper layers of the brass. As soon as opaque colors can penetrate deeper into the brass, antiquity can crumble. Do not use normal cloths, brushes or paper towels, as they are too abrasive to gently remove dirt from the surface.

Preserve old brass

To preserve the patina and keep your old brass objects, you can gently treat your brass with olive oil or linseed oil with a microfiber cloth. Brass seals sold in hardware stores are excellent for new brass. However, if you work with brass that is more than a few decades old, you should be as careful as possible, otherwise you run the risk of destroying the old brass surface. Olive oil penetrates microscopic pores in the brass and prevents oxygen and moisture from entering the inner layers of the material. Flaxseed oil works the same way, but it is a bit more aggressive and expensive and is often used to treat steel tools. Olive oil has been used for thousands of years, at least since ancient Rome, to protect brass from wear.

When applying olive oil to your antiques, gently rub small amounts of oil in a circular motion until the brass is covered and slightly shiny. Allow your brass to cure for at least 10 minutes before removing excess oil with a dry microfiber cloth. Although the shine of the extra oil will make your old brass shine with direct light, dirt and dirt will adhere to the slow-drying oil and eventually cause damage.

Restoration of old brass

If you really need to remove the patina from your antiques, make sure your brass is in good condition before trying to remove the stain. Remember that when polishing brass, layers of material are rubbed. If you treat brass with chemicals, burn layers of material.

Check your items for cracks, scales or blackheads to make sure your old brass is in sufficient condition to polish or restore it. If one of these defects is present, there is a risk that your antiques will be irreparably damaged if you try to restore them. If your bronze is brown with some scratches or surface defects, you should be able to do so.