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T Franks
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 Posted: Tue 18 Jan, 2011 9:09 am Post subject: Bronze rings, need help |
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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
Industry Professional
Location: Kiev, Ukraine Joined: 24 Mar 2010
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Tue 18 Jan, 2011 11:16 am Post subject: |
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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
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Tue 18 Jan, 2011 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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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
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| Posted: Tue 18 Jan, 2011 1:20 pm Post subject: |
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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
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| Posted: Tue 18 Jan, 2011 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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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
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| Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 6:41 am Post subject: |
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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
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| Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 9:05 am Post subject: |
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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
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| Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 10:32 am Post subject: |
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| 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 
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Chad Arnow
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 10:34 am Post subject: |
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| 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 |
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. 
Unless the manufacturer is being imprecise with their terminology.
ChadA
http://chadarnow.com/
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T Franks
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| Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 10:34 am Post subject: |
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| 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. 
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T Franks
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| Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 10:38 am Post subject: |
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| 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.
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
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| Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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| 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 |
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. 
I still think you grow to like them as they are unless you play with some seriously anal-retentive authenticity police in your group. 
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T Franks
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| Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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. |
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This is a standard topic