antiqueing replacement parts

BrotherRockeye

BrotherRockeye

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Rural Saskatchewan
I like proper!
proper fit,proper function,proper finish.

I can handle the fit and function,and can make old look new,but have no experience making new look old.

Before I start looking for a good way to make new blued replacement parts match antique finish I thought I'd ask if anyone had any tried and true methods.

The first thing that catches your eye when you look at a 100+ yr old shootin iron shouldn't be the shiny blue replacement parts!

Anyone have any suggestions on aging blued metal?
 
Birchwood-Casey makes a cold browning for just what you're doing. It's called Plum Brown Barrel Finish. Not exactly cheap stuff though. MSRP is $10.30US for a 5 oz bottle.
 
You can 'work back' the finish with steel wool to get to the steel around the high points. Mild acids like vinegar, mustard, lemon juice and sometimes bleach can be used to get a mottled aged look.
 
The real trick is getting a fine pitting pattern that so many old gun have. I've tried just about every chemical from acid to alkaline. However burying in the ground for a couple of months works for me!!
 
don't think I can bury anything right now :p
used to use a hammer and 80grit sandpaper to put a cast look back on aluminum repairs...might work for that pitted look...or emery cloth...
I'll try the suggestions and a few ideas and see what works best.

anyone ever tried using table salt in a sandblaster?
valve grinding compound on a brass wheel?
 
I've heard of guys burying the parts beside the shed and making sure to take a piss on that spot every chance for a few months. When you dig them up they are nicely antiqued.

Can't say I've tried it myself, but I havn't had a need to antique anything either.
 
Update for those who care...
spent part of yesterday and most of today experimenting with different things and have decided that there is no substitute for elbow grease.I want results now and control over them,so burying etc. isn't an option for me.
to get the desired result I used:
valve grinding compound on fine steel wool to thin the blue to match the irons frame
80 grit emery cloth/50 gr sandpaper and a fine hammer to "pit" to the proper extent.
I like this method because it's easy to control the amount of thinning and pitting you do.
the loading lever now looks like it belongs to the old Remmy,not like a replacement.
Lets hope the cylinder turns out as good!!
 
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