• Home
  • Blog
    • Audio Podcast Archive
    • Joinery
    • News & Ramblings
    • Projects
    • Q & A
    • Shop Tips
    • Tools
  • Free Videos
  • Premium Video Courses
  • Traditional Classes
    • Foundations of Traditional Woodworking
RegisterLogin
Bob Rozaieski Fine WoodworkingBob Rozaieski Fine Woodworking
  • Home
  • Blog
    • Audio Podcast Archive
    • Joinery
    • News & Ramblings
    • Projects
    • Q & A
    • Shop Tips
    • Tools
  • Free Videos
  • Premium Video Courses
  • Traditional Classes
    • Foundations of Traditional Woodworking

Shop Tips

How to Make New Hardware Look Old

  • Posted by Bob Rozaieski
  • Categories Shop Tips, Videos
  • Date August 11, 2020
  • Comments 0 comment
Hand Forged Hardware after Aging and Oiling

I’m not a big fan of shiny hardware.  Whether it’s steel or brass, mirror polished just isn’t my style.  So, most of the time, I don’t use hardware as it comes right out of the package if it is shiny and bright.  Even hand forged hardware can be a bit much in some cases if it has been filed bright.  I know I’m not alone in my opinion either.  Take for example the hardware for the current project I’m finishing up.

New Hand Forged Dovetail Hinges
These hand forged dovetail hinges are perfectly fine as is if you don’t mind the bright file work being so…bright.

This hardware was hand forged by a very talented young blacksmith.  As is necessary and traditional with hand forged hardware, there is always some work required with a file after the forging is done.  The process of filing the hinges to clean them up and smooth them out, however, leaves areas of very bright metal on an otherwise black forged item.  This isn’t a big deal in most cases as the brightly filed areas will develop a patina with time and use.  However, if you want to speed things up a bit, as my client did in this case, you can help the process along with some simple ingredients from your kitchen.

A Simple Hardware Aging Solution
A simple solution of salt and vinegar can age shiny hardware in just a few hours.

There are literally dozens of formulas for solutions that will age steel and brass and add some “instant” patina.  You can use things like gun bluing solution, some toilet bowl cleaners, citric acid (typically used by home brewers and folks that can and preserve their own food), and muriatic (i.e. hydrochloric) acid from the hardware store.  Most of these products will work a little faster than my tried and true solution, but those that work quickly are quite caustic and nasty to work with, and many of these products are simply not readily available everywhere.   However, the ingredients for the solution I use can be found in any grocery store, and, when I’m done with my aging solution, I can just dump it down the kitchen drain.  The same cannot be said for most of the other products.

Aged Hand Forged Hinges
After coming out of the aging solution and air drying for several hours, this is the result.

To age hardware, I use nothing more than a tablespoon or two of regular table salt dissolved in white vinegar.  The process is super simple.  Mix up the solution in a container that will fit your hardware.  Dunk the hardware into the solution, take it out, and let it air dry for a few hours.  If your hardware is zinc coated, you will need to soak it in the solution until the zinc coating has dissolved before removing it and letting it dry.  If your hardware is coated with lacquer (applied by the manufacturer to keep it shiny and new looking), you will need to remove the lacquer using lacquer thinner or by abrading prior to soaking in the salt and vinegar solution.

Hand Forged Hardware after Aging and Oiling
If the freshly rusted look is a bit much for your taste, oiling the hardware with a light machine oil and wiping it down will give the hardware a well cared for but aged look.

The salt and vinegar solution air drying on the hardware will speed oxidation on the surface of the metal.  This oxidation will result in darkening of steel, as well as the appearance of brown/red rust on the surface.  Brass will just darken and age as it does not rust.  Once dried, the hardware can be used as is for a well aged look.  If the rust on the steel hardware is a bit too much patina for you, you can rub some oil into the metal.  This will remove some of the surface rust but leave behind the darkened metal oxidation giving the hardware an aged but well cared for look.  This is my personal preference in most cases.

One more note.  When I started using this method years ago, I used only the vinegar and did not add salt to the mixture (see video below).  However, several years ago I started adding the salt to the mixture and, to me at least, the results got more consistent and even compared to using the vinegar alone.  I encourage you to try it both ways for yourself and see what works best for you.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Tag:Hardware

author avatar
Bob Rozaieski

I'm a passionate woodworking enthusiast of over 30 years, with an interest in the methods of pre-industrial joiners and cabinetmakers. I'm a furniture maker, teacher, and author, and I share my thoughts and experiences with the goal of educating and inspiring others who are pursuing the craft of traditional woodworking. In addition to writing about and teaching traditional woodworking, I also build commission pieces for customers, and speak at woodworking shows and seminars.

Previous post

How to Design and Carve Gothic Tracery
August 11, 2020

Next post

HTT060 - Photographing Your Work
August 24, 2020

Join the Discussion Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search

Categories

  • Audio
  • Joinery
  • News & Ramblings
  • Projects
  • Q & A
  • Shop Tips
  • Tools
  • Videos

Latest Online Courses

Hand Saw Foundations

Hand Saw Foundations

$ 50.00
Colonial Wall Cupboard

Colonial Wall Cupboard

Coming soon
English Workbench

English Workbench

Free

About

  • About
  • Testimonials

Links

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed

Information

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Support

  • FAQs
  • Contact

Copyright © 2015-2021 Bob Rozaieski Fine Woodworking

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Login with your site account

Lost your password?

Not a member yet? Register now

Register a new account

Are you a member? Login now

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.