Brass Doorknobs
How can I take the shine off of new brass, and make it look old?
I have an old house, with nice old glass doorknobs, and recently one broke, so I bought a new set from Lowe's, but they stand out because the brass is so shiny. How can I make it look dull like the others? Thanks for any help!
William: Do you mean toilet bowl cleaner? Thanks for the help
don't you just rub it with sand paper??
The Qualities of Brass Door Hardware Still the Choice for Decorative Door Furniture
There is still a certain tradition to use brass as door furniture; it is a strong metal, made up of mostly zinc and copper, with a yellowish colour to it that gives it a gold-like appearance making it aesthetically pleasing. Brass is used within door furniture as it is relatively resistant to tarnishing; it is often used within decoration because of its colour.
Brass is also a very useful metal as it becomes a germicidal, due to the copper within the brass, through the oligodymanic effect. This means that brass is a mild antiseptic, and brass doorknobs typically disinfect themselves of a lot of bacteria within eight hours, which is very practical. While the hardness of the material makes brass a perfect metal to use on door furnishing; after World War II, brass door furniture was seen as extravagant, which is still a high impression that has been maintained to this day.
Although, there is a downside of brass that it reacts with the elements in the air. This can result to slight colour change and corrosion over years. However, to combat this brass furnishings can be lacquered, which slows these reactions down. Other metals are also sometimes added to the alloy to make the brass even more workable; an example of this would be lead alloys within brass door furniture. These metals can also include tin, arsenic and antimony, which help to resist corrosion. Iron can also be included to the brass in order to make the brass harder and easier to forge.
Usually in brass door furniture the surface is not lacquered rather highly polished as lacquer can degrade through constant use. After time this surface can be repolished to restore the beautiful glossy finish. Although there is a push for chrome and stainless steel in metal work these days, brass is a beautiful metal that is still used heavily for door hardware to this day especially for older buildings. Contemporary design prefers plain styles so decorative door furniture is still preferred in brass to accentuate the intricate and ornate metal work.
Kick plates protect the bottom of the door against feet and other articles banging into the door and damaging paint and wood work. Door handles and push plates are used to embellish the door whilst being functional and easy to use. Locks and hinges can be also made from brass to be long lasting and hardwearing.
Brass door furniture has a very distinctive look that gives a property a traditional yet established feel. Although fashions may change brass door hardware will always be the choice for the more discerning property owner who wants to project a high quality image.
 CBK Ltd Aluminum 2-1/4-Inch W Double Wall Hooks with Antique Brass Finish, Set of 4 List Price: Sale Price: $32.90 You save: $13.29 (29%)  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionDouble wall hooks with antique doorknob design, cast backplate and antique brass finish. Set of 4. 1-1/2-inch L by 2-1/2-inch W by 6-1/4-inch H. Aluminum. CBK Exclusive Features
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 Victorian Walking Stick Cobalt Blue Cut Glass Cane Sale Price: $26.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionVictorian Walking Stick Cobalt Blue Cut Glass Cane is a beautiful cane made with a reproduction vintage doorknob handle design. This Blue Cut Glass cane features a dark hardwood handle with brass accents, and a rubber tip for using the walking stick on hard floors. The deep colbalt blue cut glass knob is a reproduction of depression-era glass from the early 1930s, and makes a great gift for blue glass collectors as well. Cobalt blue cut glass cane measures 35 inches long and weighs 2lb Features
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