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How to Give Brass a Tarnished Look

New or recently polished brass items give off a warm, bright reflective glow. Antique brass items are much darker, with a deep-toned patina, and often show aged scratches and slight imperfections. The antique aesthetic adds a sense of character and may be used to match other antiques decorating a room. Adding the appearance of age and tarnish to your brass items requires only a small number of household items and a few hours of your time.

Things You'll Need

Steel wool
2 or 3 small cloths
Acetone or nail polish remover
Ammonia
Bucket large enough to hold the items you are tarnishing
Mesh strainer with a handle
Kitchen twine
Plastic bag large enough to cover the bucket

Instructions

- 1
  Gently rub the brass with with very fine steel to remove any lacquer on the item. Once the surface is scuffed and the shine has been eliminated, wipe down the item with acetone until the lacquer is removed. Finally, with a new clean cloth, wipe down the item again, removing any last traces of acetone.
- 2
  Set up an ammonia fuming station by pouring the ammonia into a large bucket. You only need a few inches of ammonia at the bottom of the bucket, since it is the vapor tarnishing your brass item. Place the strainer over the top of the bucket, balancing it and tying down if necessary with kitchen twine.
- 3
  Add the brass items to the mesh strainer and cover the top of the bucket with the plastic bag. Secure the bag with the kitchen twine or, if small enough, a rubber band.
- 4
  Let the item sit in the container for up to 24 hours. Check the progress of your brass items every few hours.
- 5
  Remove the brass times from the bucket. Gently clean off the surface with a cloth or steel wool until you reach the ideal tarnish for your taste. Any scratches will remain dark.

Antiques