VILLANOVA'S Guide To Aging Metal Hardware (Pic Heavy!)

[VILLANOVA]

So I decided to experiment and age the hardware I bought for my epiphone LP. I read threads about how chrome CANNOT age and was glad that the parts I bought (replacement tail piece and tune-o-matic) were able to be aged.

I gathered everything in my room and got to work. For the aging, I used Etchant solution (easily found in Radio Shack for us Americans). I also had some 0000 grade steel wool on hand, as well as a sponge or two (with the abrasive back side).

Other then that, I used some cotton balls, paper towels, and a couple of large bowls. Be sure to keep a couple of bowls of clean water on hand. You'll need to quickly dip the parts into water to stop the etchant from doing any more aging. This is how you control it.

Sorry I didn't take any pics of the aging process :/

Before you start, if you have silver polish, you're supposedly able to polish the piece back to almost normal and try the aging again. This only worked with the aluminum tailpiece. I can't vouch for any other parts.

And finally, DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!

What I did was create a solution with a total of 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup etchant solution. The stuff is yellow and smells awful. Be sure to work in a well ventilated area, use gloves, and even eye protection (should you feel it necessary).

From here, I made a harness out of floss (ingenuity!) and dipped the tailpiece into the solution for 2-3 seconds max. MAKE SURE TO DIP THE PIECE IN ALL TOGETHER AND EVENLY. After, I quickly dipped the TP into a bowl of water. I checked the aging, decided it needed a little more, and dipped it back into the solution for another 2-3 seconds (followed by quickly moving the TP to the water bowl). Be careful if some of your parts aren't fully nickel or aluminum. Underneath there is copper. If you leave a piece in for too long, it will eventually "age" to this copper level.

I did this until I reached a level I was satisfied with. I then moved on to the tune-o-matic and the studs/bushings for each.

For the pickup cover, I got a little lazy. I didn't want to remove it so I did this instead. I taped off the sides so no water would leak. Then I dipped a cotton ball into the solution, and prepared a very damp cloth in my other hand. I quickly wiped the PU cover with the cotton ball and then wiped it with the damp cloth a second or two later to stop the etchant. I slowly did this until I reached a level I was satisfied with. Please use extreme caution. I don't know what etchant will do to your pickup and the inside of your guitar, should you use too much solution or water.

After doing this for some time, I finished all my pieces. After drying them, what I did was give each piece a quick rub down with some 0000 grade steel wool (when doing a PU cover, make sure to keep that tape on. Cleaning bits of steel wool from the sub-top portions of a pickup sucks). This, IMO, made the parts look smoother and helps enhance the effects of the etchant.

After this step, if satisfied, you should be finished

Some of my pictures aren't the best. It's roughly 12:40am here and all I've got is my weak ceiling light.

Enough talking, here are the pictures

I'd be happy to answer any questions you have. Enjoy!

Nickel Tune-O-Matic v. Stock Epiphone








Gotoh Metric Tailpiece v. Stock Epiphone












Random Bits v. Stock Epiphone Random Bits

[VILLANOVA]

SD Nickel Pickup Cover v. Stock Epiphone Pickup Cover







It's almost like a mirror! Note: Jimi Hendrix reflection haha

ALL TOGETHER NOW!

[SABLE]

Awesome thread.

[Sinster]

Try Wood Bleach (oxalic acid)... I haven't tried it but when I used my spoon to stir it up it made it look aged.

[VILLANOVA]

Originally Posted by SABLE

Awesome thread.

Thanks. Anything to help out MLP'ers

[#1guitarman]

Bump for a GOOD thread!!

[lp_junkie]

good work.

[Gibson]

Ive always loved the look of age nickel on guitars