These Raw Brass Headpins or Nails were antiqued using a process known as fuming.  They were originally a brassy gold color.  The fuming process allows you to darken them and produce a protective coating that will maintain the new color for a very long time.  By simply controlling the amount of time they are fumed, you will control the color.  Fifteen minutes in the fuming process will give raw brass the appearance of Antique Gold.  Leave the item in longer and the result will be have the color of Brass Oxide.  By fuming for several hours, the brass can be darkened to give the appearance of brass that is centuries old.  Be sure that your brass items are perfectly clean, dry, and free of machine oil before fuming.

Here is an ordinary plastic storage container that we use as our fuming chamber.  You can use any non-metallic container with a tight fitting lid.  The fuming solution is nothing more than ordinary cider vinegar.  We like to use Cider Vinegar because we believe that it is more acidic than distilled white vinegar.  The lid must fit tightly because of the smell and we don't want air drafts to affect the fuming process.

It is also very important that your brass is clean.  Use a clean, stiff brush and hot soapy water to clean the item and rinse in hot water.  Do not touch the brass with your bare hands or you will affect the antiquing process.  Dry the item with a paper towel before placing it into the fumer.

With the lid removed, you can see that there is an old nylon stocking (or panty hose) stretched across the bowl.  There is about 1/2 inch of cider vinegar in the bottom of the bowl.  For heavy items, you can support the nylon by punching a couple of holes in the bottom of a smaller plastic container and "sinking" it with the open side up into the vinegar.  This smaller container needs to be tall enough to support the nylon without preventing the lid from sealing.  For our fuming chamber, we used an one pint plastic container such as you might get when you buy potato salad from the Deli.  This very simple system allows you to put the finish that you want on your compents instead of relying on the finish that someone else has applied.  It is easy, it is fast and it gives you control. 

Place the item "top" side up onto the nylon and replace the lid onto the fumer.  Check the progress every fifteen minutes until it achieves the patina you want.

THE BRASS FACTS:

Brass seems to be the hot item now for creating old and new jewelry designs. The Victorians used it for less-expensive-than–gold jewelry and it

has been used in the 20^th century for creating “costume jewelry”.