Patina on padlocks

CHIHUAHUA3/4/2008

hi , have read on how to age brass , could some one help looking to get a light brown to dark brown on my collection thanking you. gus

Paul Prescott

You can chemically colour metal, but I would not advise it. Most collectors will spot it, and it would reduce the desirability (and value) of any lock, not enhance it ?

oldbiscuit

I agree with oldlock, however on locks that I’ve had to repair I’ve been able to darken up the repairs using commercial gun cold bluing. You can purchase it at most firearm stores. You can also Google brass copper patina to come up with homemade concoctions that work. I myself wouldn’t do a whole lock as oldlock said most collectors would spot it in a heartbeat and lower the value. Mark

Dean Nickel

I will also say that it will lower the value to other collectors.

I don’t collect locks to later sell. If I get a lock that is “IN” my collection I will not let it go so I will clean and redo the finish of the lock as close to the original as I can. In fact I am working on one now that I will be doing an oil rubbed brass Unit lock. I am planning on using Metal Darkening Solution from Architecturals.net (Yes I will post before and after pictures, but I have just started the project.) I have completed a cast iron and bronze lock that I have posted pictures here and I am building mounts for that and the lock I am working on. The only thing that I try to keep in mind when doing this is that I want a lock that would look “New” and work like new too. Sourcing the key blanks is the only hard part as I want them to have the OEM logo of that time. I like having show quality locks in my collection instead of that scratched lock that looks like it should be scrapped. 8-)

http://www.uniquelighting.com/Spec%20Sheets/PatinaTreatment.pdf
Here is a DYI on Patina that I tripped over.

oldbiscuit

Dean, check this site out. http://www.rustyiron.com/engines/art…iqueFinish.pdf This is basically what I do to age parts on old engines I restore. It works really well on brass parts. Mark

CHIHUAHUA3/4/2008

hi thanks for the quick reply ,yup I will follow you advice and leave well alone . The reason was that I have cleaned them up and then I read that if I continue cleaning them it will wear some of the good bits , so I thought about going the other way. and go for the light brown look as its seems that some site’s everyone’s collection are all the same colour. The other thing is not going to sell any of my padlock’s just the pleasure of looking and touching them . I have only 1 high value lock which is a 1850/60yr bronze combination which has my home town stamped on it. (CALCUTTA) T.E.THOMSON & C0 LTD 4 WORDS. I paid £127.00 that a lot of cash for me the rest are not that much. I also not too interested in their value more the history so thanks again for all your replies .Gus sorry camera problem no pic ’s