1.26.12

Last Friday I linked to a project that outlined the steps for speed verdigrising brass objects.  I thought I would give it a try.

I'm always so suspicious of DIY things I see on Pinterest with a cheery caption that it is super easy (I'll tell you about my efforts to give something a zinc like paint job in a couple of days).

This project, however, lived up to the hype.  

All you need is salt (I used Kosher), apple cider vinegar (I would hazard a guess that any vinegar would do) and some brass objects.  I found that once I was in the selection process that I didn't want to offer up too many of them for this project.  

I forgot how pretty some of my pieces are.  I really need to figure out something to do with them.  But I digress.

Evidently the age of your vinegar has no bearing on the project.  Mine expired in 2007, as is evident by all the sediment at the bottom of the bottle.  I really need to clean out my pantry.

I mixed one tablespoon of salt and three tablespoons of vinegar in a small container.  Then I plunked in my brass pieces and let them soak for about 30 minutes.  I was conducting this experiment in the kitchen but the smell of old apple cider vinegar was overwhelming so I moved my operation out to the garage.  

After 30 minutes I removed my pieces from their bath and put them on a paper towel to dry.  An hour or so later I repeated the process. I think I did this about four times total.  Each time I could see them getting a little greener.  This morning, after letting them dry over night they were in the state you see here.  

The original steps, taken from a Sommerset publication and outlined on Good Grief Girdie's blog say to preserve your verdigris by sealing it with a coat of varnish.

Not sure what I am going to do with my little experiment but it was fun to test out.

Note:  The place I purchased my stamped brass pieces is Fancifuls. Fabulous selection. 

Comments

[Pesky Patti]

Cool! I learned something from a lady under the freeway. She was buying some of those 1950's hammered brass plates from me. She was excited to get them and I had been trying to sell them forever. She told me she nails them to the fence outside and as time goes by, they start changing colors from the elements as time goes by. You have plenty of property to hang some about. :-)