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+-- Thread: How to darken drawer pulls (/showthread.php?tid=7345990)
How to darken drawer pulls - petertay15 - 01-26-2019
We have some newish metal drawer pulls—oh so shiney gold. They have a fancy back plate and hinged handle.
What would you spray them with to make them darker, older looking.
Thanks for your advice.
RE: How to darken drawer pulls - MsNomer - 01-26-2019
Are they solid brass? If so, make sure there’s no lacquer, then hit with EZ-Off.
RE: How to darken drawer pulls - daddo - 01-27-2019
Gun blue might work. I use it to blacken parts and tools I machine.
Like this square socket.
![[Image: RNdaFK5.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/RNdaFK5.jpg)
Just blacken and then steel wool for a flat and worn finish.
RE: How to darken drawer pulls - petertay15 - 01-29-2019
We found something, so will let others know. It’s a rattle-can. Their website says:
Mohawk TONE FINISH TONER. Finely ground, non-fading pigments for color repairs that last. Available in a wide variety of wood finishing shades. Used throughout the industry for quick efficient professional touch-up. Adapts to various methods so as to blend in spot repairs. Adjustment of sheen is achieved with a topcoat of clear lacquers available in gloss, satin, flat and dead flat.
RE: How to darken drawer pulls - Cooler - 01-29-2019
If the parts are brass plated there will be a waterborne lacquer coating. I doubt that most spray finishes will adhere. You will have to test.
A magnet will tell you if the parts are plated steel.
If they are plated steel, then there is the lacquer top coat, then a "flash" of brass and then nickel plating acting as a base coat.
The brass will both tarnish easily once the lacquer is removed and will rub off almost as easily as erasing a pencil.
If they are solid brass you can oxidize them. But then you will have to top coat them to end the oxidation process.
https://www.houseofantiquehardware.com/brass-darkening-aging-solution?utm_source=froog&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=gdf&partner=froog&CAWELAID=120035490000004181&CATARGETID=120035490000067833&CADevice=c&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkMDiBRDNARIsACKP1FEGO2Z4R2KCRRPIPkDjK60iZLspwpWBd8Da0JiiRsueXYKO-w2_al0aAh6jEALw_wcB
RE: How to darken drawer pulls - daddo - 01-29-2019
There is a process I have used to antique handles and such- depends on the colors you want- I wanted black rusted.
Sand the part well and clean with acetone. Spray dark brown and let that cure (about 5 days), then spray with black and let that cure a week or two. Then lightly sand spots (200 grit or even better- steel wool) until you break through the black paint and see the brown. Sand only the spots you want to look brown/rusty- soften the surface with steel wool. Then clear coat with a satin or gloss- which ever final appearance you like.
RE: How to darken drawer pulls - wood2woodknot - 01-29-2019
Carolyn (MsNomer) .... Welcome back. Good to hear from you again.
RE: How to darken drawer pulls - MsNomer - 01-30-2019
(01-29-2019, 11:28 PM)wood2woodknot Wrote: Carolyn (MsNomer) .... Welcome back. Good to hear from you again.
Glad to be back. Wasn’t my doing—there was a glitch in my log-in and I had no way to communicate til someone contacted me.