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Metal finishes

D

Dan Dubeau

Ultra Member
A few weeks ago, My Son and I forged a hair broach for my Daughters birthday. I wanted to give it a hot brass brushed finish, but could not find a single one of the many brass brushes I knew I had somewhere. So I ordered a bunch from princess auto, but it got me thinking.....What ELSE can we brush on to hot steel to take up the finish. I couldn't find Copper or Bronze brushes, so I ordered some scrubbers, thinking the thin cross sectional area would behave the same as a brush.....Let's see shall we?

Starting off with a freshened up peice of hr
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First up is the std brass brush. Leaves a nice bright brassy deposit.
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Next up was the Copper scrubber. Didn't really deposit anything, but I could feel it being very draggy on the surface like it was sticking a bit.
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And last was a bronze scrubbers. Pretty much the same as the Copper. Left nothing visible on the surface.
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Now the interesting part. I went back over the whole thing with the brass brush, and can see distinct differences where I used the scrubbers. So while they didn't deposit their colours on the material themselves. They were able to alter the brass colour, and in the case of the Copper, make it a bit darker.

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Interesting expirament that will lead to some more playing around I'm sure.... I really want to figure out the dark bronze rubbed finish....if anybody knows how, I'm all ears. The Copper, then brass is close, but still to bright. Might try to tarnish it a bit and see where it leads.
 
Dan Dubeau said:
I did the figure 8, and my son did the pin 100%. Even bossing me around keeping his fire tended lol.
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That's so awesome Dan! Great gift and nice work!

As for finishes, you know I'm all about them for both the reels and watch cases I make but I can't help with suggestions for that style of finish. It has me interested though so keep posting your results please!
 
1018Machine said:
That's so awesome Dan! Great gift and nice work!

As for finishes, you know I'm all about them for both the reels and watch cases I make but I can't help with suggestions for that style of finish. It has me interested though so keep posting your results please!
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Thank you. Yes, your level of finishing machined parts is something to aspire to. I've never really made anything that needed more than a scotchbrite brushing, but I would like to up my game and learn how to finish things a bit better than I currently do. Both in the machine shop, and smithy.

I'll keep this updated with my findings. Had an idea this morning when I woke up that I'm going to try and make some time for this afternoon, hopefully.....
 
Thanks. I'm a fan of Preso's work/channel. Some good videos in that playlist. Electro plating is on my list of things to try, especially when I get back into the golf club stuff.
 
Dan Dubeau said:
Electro plating is on my list of things to try, especially when I get back into the golf club stuff.
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Electroplating is very rewarding....I do a variety of coatings in the shop, everything from anodizing, powder coating to nickel and gold plating. It's nice to have options and really enhances your projects :)
 
Played around bit with some precision brand blackening liquid on the 3 different spots, plus bare steel.
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Interesting difference. I wonder what it would look like if I scrubbed the surface a bit....
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Now the Copper.
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I think I've got enough to work with here....I like the possibilities. Now I need to protect this somehow.

Wax, lacquer, and oil tests will be next.
 
Looks wise I think it would look great. Perhaps even better (I'm not a bright chrome fan) but not sure it would stand up the same in the corrosion dept.
 
David said:
I wonder how nickel plating would substitute for chrome on small motorcycle parts.
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As I recall, from many many moons ago, chrome plating starts with copper, then nickel and then finally chrome. But that's from very long ago. Things may have changed.
 
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