Oil-rubbed bronze finish takes on a more muted look.
The look of oil-rubbed bronze is a darkened and sometimes mottled answer to the harsh yellow of "builder's brass" fixtures. An oil-rubbed bronze finish mutes the brightness of yellow brass and gives it a richer, deeper tone, allowing the lamp or bath or kitchen fixtures to take their rightful place within a room rather than exist as an eye sore. It is fairly simple to turn bright brass into an oil-rubbed bronze finish, but if the finish is not protected properly, or if the top clear coat or wax coat is damaged, the oil-rubbed bronze finish may become uneven and require restoration. Fortunately, the same process that creates the finish is capable of restoring it.
Instructions
1. Remove any existing clear coat from the fixture by wearing rubber gloves and dabbing a piece of fine-grade steel wool in lacquer remover. Gently rub the metal portions of the fixture until the gloss is gone.
2. Wipe off any residue with a clean, soft cloth.
3. Mix one part antiquing solution with 10 parts water in a rubber tub large enough to submerge the fixture. Place the fixture into the tub and agitate to remove any air bubbles sticking to the fixture.
4. Watch the color of the fixture darken and remove the fixture when the color reaches the desired hue, then rinse the fixture immediately in warm, running water.
5. Dry the fixture completely and top with a coat of clear spray paint or buff with wax, as wet areas and areas not protected by either a clear spray coat or wax continue to darken.
Tags: bronze finish, oil-rubbed bronze, clear coat, clear spray, oil-rubbed bronze finish