Home >> Collecting >> Antiques

How to Make a Faux Oil Rubbed Bronze Finish

An oil rubbed bronze finish has a deep orange-gold color with a blackened or speckled top patina. This finish can easily be created with the right materials that effectively tone or completely mask the bright yellow of the "builder's brass" finish found on most new brass and brass plate fixtures. Creating a faux oil rubbed bronze finish over bright yellow brass gives a vintage or antique appearance to pieces that would stand out too harshly in otherwise understated and elegant color schemes.

Things You'll Need

Rubber gloves
Lacquer remover
Fine-grade steel wool
Water
Antiquing solution
Glass or plastic bowl
Wax
Clean cloths

Instructions

- 1
  Put on rubber gloves. Dab a small amount of lacquer remover onto a piece of fine-grade steel wool. Gently rub the surface of the fixture with the steel wool to remove any polyurethane or wax. Rinse the fixture with clear water and dry it to remove the lacquer remover.
- 2
  Mix one part antiquing solution with 10 parts water at room temperature in a glass or plastic bowl large enough to submerge the fixture. Place the fixture into the mixture and agitate to remove any air bubbles on the surface of the fixture, which could cause uneven antiquing.
- 3
  Watch the color deepen until the hue is satisfactory. Remove the fixture and immediately rinse under running water. Dry the fixture completely to prevent wet spots from continuing to darken.
- 4
  Buff the fixture with a wax top coat to protect the new finish and prevent any continued reaction between the antiquing solution and the brass of the fixture.
- 5
  Add additional wax at least once a year to adequately protect the faux oil rubbed bronze finish.

Antiques