heavy patina brass mods / maintenance help

[vapero]

I'm really leaning towards a brass mod this time but I don't like the shiny golden look, I know it will soon develop a nice patina on it but I don't plan on polishing ever... I'm afraid that it would still need a polishing or it will begin to look feel really bad

how does patina develop after a long period how will it look?

please if you can illustrate me posting some aged brass mods and an approximate date since the last polish it would be of a huge help for me to decide for or against brass

 

[EvilZoe]

I'm really leaning towards a brass mod this time but I don't like the shiny golden look, I know it will soon develop a nice patina on it but I don't plan on polishing ever... I'm afraid that it would still need a polishing or it will begin to look feel really bad

how does patina develop after a long period how will it look?

please if you can illustrate me posting some aged brass mods and an approximate date since the last polish it would be of a huge help for me to decide for or against brass

Brass really doesn't take all that long to develop a patina and you can just polish with regular cloths without losing the patina after it develops. That would keep it from looking just neglected and ugly.

Now, KEEPING a brass mod shiny and polished requires special cloths or solvents.

 

[footbag]

If you polish brass, it may come out looking silver. But I also like the buildup of patina on brass. I'm in the furniture business, and I have seen and polished a lot of brass in my day.

My guess is it would start with finger prints, but after a few months, it would just begin to overall tarnish. I think you could use ammonia to help it tarnish further. Fuming it would probably be sufficient.

 

[State O' Flux]

footbag has provided my "lead-in". Easy patina for brass. The speckled "hanging from wires" bracelet patina seen in the photos - I've done on knife scales, a brass Winchester lever action receiver and a copper gravestone memorial placard... then lightly polished to create highlights, and finally frosted clear powder-coat to preserve and protect.

If it comes out unsatisfying... sand and buff it off, and start over. ;-)

 

[vapero]

I would want it to get like this, and not more. my question is if untreated in any way how will patina develop past this stage

 

[State O' Flux]

Because you constantly handle it, not much beyond that... perhaps a bit darker/blotchier in the areas you don't ever touch, and a nice green verdigris here and there... in a decade or two. ;-)

 

[EvilZoe]

This thread caused me to head to Amazon and buy a new brass cloth.

 

[vapero]

Because you constantly handle it, not much beyond that... perhaps a bit darker/blotchier in the areas you don't ever touch, and a nice green verdigris here and there... in a decade or two. ;-)

great! that's what I was hopping to hear!

 

[entitynein]

Pee on it!