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T Franks




Location: Chicagoland Suburbs, Illinois
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PostPosted: Tue 18 Jan, 2011 9:09 am    Post subject: Bronze rings, need help         Reply with quote

I ordered a bronze belt hook from raymond's quiet press, in order to put together a la tene sword suspension system. I also ordered 3 more bronze rings from a marine distributor to complete the belt. The two colors are very different and I am wondering if someone can tell me how I might be able to get them to match better. Is there a finish or coating I can put on it to make the color look more similar? And if so, which would it work better on... the belt hook on the left? or the other 3 rings (example on right)? Thanks tons.
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Viktor Ivanov
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Location: Kiev, Ukraine
Joined: 24 Mar 2010

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PostPosted: Tue 18 Jan, 2011 11:16 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Actually, the only way out is to cover them with a thin layer of another metal - now it is called galvanization.
You may make a copper plating, chrome plating, silvering or guilding.
Copper plating in your case seems the most proper.

Of course it works if there are some makers in your area who do that.

Webshop for re-enactors - loads of armour, cast and leather stuff !
http://armourandcastings.com/
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Alan Schiff
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Location: Las Vegas
Joined: 06 Oct 2008

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PostPosted: Tue 18 Jan, 2011 12:36 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

You could try antiquing them as well. Either with heat or with a compound like Birchwood Casey "Brass Black". Do it to all of the rings, and they should darken up and be more similar in appearance. Of course if you want them shiny, you'd have to have them plated. Have you tried polishing them? That might make them more similar in color as well.

Hope that helps,
Alan
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T Franks




Location: Chicagoland Suburbs, Illinois
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PostPosted: Tue 18 Jan, 2011 1:20 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks gang. I might try polishing just to see what it will do. If that does'nt do much I might just leave it. At least the 3 rings match, and it's just the toggle that is a lil' different. It might not look that bad in the end.
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M. Livermore





Joined: 20 Aug 2008

Posts: 96

PostPosted: Tue 18 Jan, 2011 1:54 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I know some guys who swear by a urine patina, and that might help you here. Heat the rings up to about 300 degrees in your oven, and then (while standing upwind) drop them into a container of urine. They should patina up nicely, and then you can polish them to acheive a more uniform finish. I have not tried it myself, but have seen some nice results from folks who claim to use the process described.
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Matthew Amt




Location: Laurel, MD, USA
Joined: 17 Sep 2003

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PostPosted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 6:41 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Shine 'em up and use them as is! There were always differences in alloys back then, so having a belt with fittings of different colors is completely accurate.

Vale,

Matthew
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Kel Rekuta




Location: Toronto, Canada
Joined: 10 Feb 2004
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PostPosted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 9:05 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I think you have a bronze casting and a brass ring. Commercially available harness rings like that are typically brass not bronze. The will look different no matter how you treat them, even aging with Liver of sulphur. Buff them up and don't worry about it, as Matthew suggests. Unless the findings are cast at the same time with the same alloy, batches won't match perfectly. It is more likely that medieval cast findings would match since most artifacts seem to be from sets. We don't necessarily have the luxury of sourcing all our parts in one place today.
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T Franks




Location: Chicagoland Suburbs, Illinois
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PostPosted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 10:32 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Kel Rekuta wrote:
I think you have a bronze casting and a brass ring.
Both the manufacturer and the website/reciept says it's bronze Confused
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Chad Arnow
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PostPosted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 10:34 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

T Franks wrote:
Kel Rekuta wrote:
I think you have a bronze casting and a brass ring.
Both the manufacturer and the website/reciept says it's bronze Confused


Not all bronzes look the same. If you varying the proportions of copper and tin and other trace elements, the color can change from fairly red to fairly yellow. It's all in the alloy. Happy

Unless the manufacturer is being imprecise with their terminology.

Happy

ChadA

http://chadarnow.com/
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T Franks




Location: Chicagoland Suburbs, Illinois
Joined: 20 Jul 2010
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Reading list: 2 books

Posts: 92

PostPosted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 10:34 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Matthew Amt wrote:
Shine 'em up and use them as is! There were always differences in alloys back then, so having a belt with fittings of different colors is completely accurate.

Vale,

Matthew

I think I might do that. When I first saw them up close in hand, it seemed like such a significant difference, but in the big picture it will probably look ok on the belt. Plus, now that you put it in that perspective, it makes me feel more comfortable with it as is. Cool
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T Franks




Location: Chicagoland Suburbs, Illinois
Joined: 20 Jul 2010
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PostPosted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 10:38 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Chad Arnow wrote:

Not all bronzes look the same. If you varying the proportions of copper and tin and other trace elements, the color can change from fairly red to fairly yellow. It's all in the alloy. Happy

Unless the manufacturer is being imprecise with their terminology.

Yeah, I think the manufacturer is all good. I'm pretty sure it's bronze, Just a different mixture like you were saying.
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Kel Rekuta




Location: Toronto, Canada
Joined: 10 Feb 2004
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PostPosted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 1:19 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

T Franks wrote:
Kel Rekuta wrote:
I think you have a bronze casting and a brass ring.
Both the manufacturer and the website/reciept says it's bronze Confused


Like I said, I think. My company sells thousands of brass rings and some bronze findings each year. We've ordered "bronze" rings from US suppliers for specific nautical purposes and been shipped cast brass rings from the Orient. It happens. We got a batch back from a long distance sailor that noticed how much differently the brass rings tarnished from the antique bronze fitting elsewhere on his boat. Not much I could do except give him his money back. Its not like we can test them with a magnet like we can with plated steel versus stainless rings. Eek!

I still think you grow to like them as they are unless you play with some seriously anal-retentive authenticity police in your group. Big Grin
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T Franks




Location: Chicagoland Suburbs, Illinois
Joined: 20 Jul 2010
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Reading list: 2 books

Posts: 92

PostPosted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 1:29 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Kel Rekuta wrote:

Like I said, I think. My company sells thousands of brass rings and some bronze findings each year. We've ordered "bronze" rings from US suppliers for specific nautical purposes and been shipped cast brass rings from the Orient. It happens. We got a batch back from a long distance sailor that noticed how much differently the brass rings tarnished from the antique bronze fitting elsewhere on his boat. Not much I could do except give him his money back. Its not like we can test them with a magnet like we can with plated steel versus stainless rings. Eek!

Ah ok, I see what you mean

Kel Rekuta wrote:

I still think you grow to like them as they are unless you play with some seriously anal-retentive authenticity police in your group. Big Grin

Laughing Out Loud
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