How to age screws

lincolnblue

I've put some new pickups and a switch in my Strat but the screws that came with it are nice and shiny when all the scratchplate ones are old and rusty/tarnished.

Any tips for ageing screws?

RaymondLin

Stick it outside for a few months or even weeks will do.

soma1975

Just buy them from Charles Guitar

sweepy

White vinegar fumes will do the trick 

SteveRobinson

Scuff the tops on wet or dry paper then leave them in salt and water overnight.

axisus

Ok, not everyone has acid lying around, but I always keep some handy for this sort of thing.

Dan

Scuff them up a bit with fine sand paper and then suspend them in a sealed container with bog standard vinegar. Leave for a few days but keep and eye out as they can go too far!

Ive done it a few times with good results.

RaymondLin

axisus said:

Ok, not everyone has acid lying around, but I always keep some handy for this sort of thing.

Coke Cola? Vinegar? 

jimmyguitar

soma1975 said:

Just buy them from Charles Guitar

Everything I’ve ever bought from there has been the wrong size, screws included 

soma1975

jimmyguitar said:

soma1975 said:

Just buy them from Charles Guitar

Everything I’ve ever bought from there has been the wrong size, screws included 

Weird. Everything I've ever bought from there has been perfect. Screws included.

CasperCaster

If they are nickel I use ferric chloride, available  as a solution from electronics suppliers (CPC, Farnell, RadioSpares etc etc). Make sure the nickel parts are clean and grease free, dilute some ferric chloride and dunk them in and watch them age before your eyes. 

GrislyFind

Scuff and then dip screw head into some water, then into some instant coffee powder. Use a lighter to 'melt' the coffee powder.

Wipe down and marvel at the results. This took about 30 seconds to do.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ns7l2zpnbo27q45/IMG_5377.JPG?raw=1

gavin_axecaster

^Yep, FC for nickel. A quick dunk in undiluted (use a plastic sieve) will give a nice subtle grey patina. Rinse with water then dunk in bicarbonate of soda solution to neutralise the FC. If you want rusting, leave to air dry. For no rust, pat dry.

Vinegar fumes will also work with nickel but is a bit more of a faff due to needing a sealed container and takes a while. If you forget and leave overnight you will be greeted with a lovely furry rusty mess.