Lesson of the day: How to relic hardware in 4 (easy) steps

monoamine

So I'm building a '52 blackguard partscaster and decided to relic my own parts.

Did a bit of reading online and lots of places offer pre-reliced bits for high prices, so I DIY'd it.

Thought I'd share my findings to save some of you guys some trouble/money.

Please do not enter the whole "relicing is shite" debate... this thread is made with good intentions!

It is literally the easiest thing in the world...

Step 1. Buy bog-standard nickel hardware.

Step 2. Buy 250mL Hydrochloric acid (£8 delivered)

Step 3. Leave hardware in closed tupperware with some acid in an little pot.

Step 4. Take hardware out after desired look achieved.

Boom.

TimmyO

5. Attach to a guitar body that has been belt-sanded then had some poo smeared in

TimmyO

(although that hardware does look very good I must say)

monoamine

haha  i've seen some terrible/tragic examples on ebay as well

luckily for me I grabbed a tastefully done one off of eBay so won't be offering tips on that!!

meltedbuzzbox

whatever happened to just playing 1 guitar a lot?

ThePrettyDamned

Not a 'realistic' relic man myself but...

... That looks very good.  Just be careful - HCl is pretty nasty stuff, though I'm assuming you've not used the fuming stuff, and it's just the fumes that have done the work for you rather than dipping the hardware in it.  

I'll remember that if ever I do a partscaster with a 'ruined' theme.  

WezV

looks good

this is the method you need to use for chrome to get any ageing occurring.   Nickel can also be aged with circuit board etching solution (ferric chloride??), but that stuff won't touch chrome 

monoamine

I can tell you from experience it works with both nickel and chrome parts.

Chrome requires more time exposure and can start to green if left for too long... hard to get a dull patina without knocking the shiny coat off with sandpaper prior

WezV

i wasn't saying you couldn't, just that you have no other really good option with chrome, whereas nickel can be done a couple of ways.   

Just adding to the completeness of the discussion rather than criticizing your approach!   It pays to know more than one method as it allows you to choose the most appropriate one for a given situation

this is a pair of pickups i aged with ferric chloride.  as the pickups were potted i was able to do it without taking them apart first just by wiping a bit of the solution on.   I would not have been able to do these covers using hydrochloric acid without removing them first. these were cheap pickup so the copper showing through is completely wrong, but you get the idea

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/p-upage.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/relic.jpg

streethawk

Did you take precautions with your tuners?

axisus

streethawk said:

Did you take precautions with your tuners?

Yeah, he put them in a condom first. Nice relic stuff - I'm gonna try that next time.

stonevibe

You can get the same effect using white vinegar. Used in the same way i.e. on a little tray in a sealed box so the fumes tarnish the nickel.

monoamine

haha i didn't put them in a condom!
basically you want the fumes to have good access to the metal but not submerge it... so i had a little open plastic pot holding the acid in the same tupperware as the loose hardware

chrisj1602

Looks great.

jaygtr

So just to get this straight you don't put the hardware in the acid it's self, you put the hardware in a sealed container with the acid and the fumes tarnish it?

Nice job by the way.

monoamine

exactly. and then take it out and let it air dry (should have some condensation in it which will turn into patina)

jaygtr

monoamine;158884" said:

exactly. and then take it out and let it air dry (should have some condensation in it which will turn into patina)

Thank you .

I will definitely try it on my next build.

DannyP

Can I ask where you get your HCl at that price and what strength you're using?

monoamine

off of amazon... says "36%" but fumes and behaves like the 16molar strong stuff i had at school! don't inhale and avoid skin contact. also, if you need to dilute, add acid to water, not water to acid!

DannyP

Righto, many thanks!

DannyP

Actually mate, if you've finished with it and have half a bottle left, are you interested in punting it on to me?