![]() He is a full time husband, father, contractor, and watch freak. You can usually find him on Watchuseek or unless he’s sleeping. For more information on the topics covered in the Ask Martha column, visit The Time Bum welcomes Guest Bum, Mr. Alastor. Questions of general interest will be answered in this column Martha Stewart regrets that unpublished letters cannot be answered individually. Questions may also be sent by email to: Please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Questions should be addressed to Ask Martha, care of Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 601 W. Avoid keeping them in high humidity, and do not use newspaper, he advises, which has acidic ink that will cause oxidation. Cassano suggests stowing brass trays, bowls or tumblers in flannel bags, such as those made to protect sterling silver, or wrapping them in acid-free tissue paper before sealing them in plastic bags. Whatever your preference, you should store your treasured objects properly to prevent them from oxidizing so much that they practically become black. One person’s patina is another’s tarnish. How you view aging brass depends on your taste. The fumes from the paint will quicken the patination process. Another trick, says Cassano, is to place an open can of traditional latex paint next to the unlacquered-brass item in an enclosed area for at least 24 hours. To accelerate this process, he recommends placing the item in hot water, which speeds up the oxidation. Left on its own without any intervention, unlacquered brass will begin to darken in about a month and will continue to take on a deeper patina with age and use, says Jamie Gregg of Colonial Bronze in Torrington, Connecticut. As always, test on a small patch of your brass item before applying the paint stripper, and consult a professional before removing lacquer from any large or valuable piece. Brush it on evenly to remove all kinds of clear coating. To do so, Cassano recommends a paint-stripper paste like Klean-Strip ($23 a gallon, ). The tarnish cannot be properly cleaned off unless you get rid of the existing lacquer. Or urethane) preserves a shiny finish and eliminates the need for polish, but it doesn’t wear evenly, resulting in blotches of tarnished metal against the bright lacquered parts. The clear coating (made of lacquer, epoxy. Worn-away lacquer may be to blame for brass’ formerly bad rap. Lacquered-brass items, meanwhile, should be cleaned with a soft cloth, mild dishwashing soap and tepid water. Test on a small area first, advises Cassano. Stronger, more abrasive cleaners, like Brasso ($3 for 8 oz., ), are best used on heavily oxidized pieces. ![]() For basic maintenance and to make unlacquered brass shine without stripping away the patina, Anthony Cassano of Greenwich Metal, in Stamford, Connecticut, recommends using polish-soaked cloths, such as Cape Cod Metal-polishing Cloths ($20 for 12, ). I polish my brass pieces about once a year every three years, I have them professionally cleaned. “Removing the tarnish is like discovering gold,” says Kevin. Adding it to a room is like crowning the space with an amazing jewel.”ĭon’t overlook a brass find simply because it appears blackened beyond repair. “It’s the patina that makes it beautiful,” says decorating designer Kevin Sharkey. In fact, not only is brass that shows its age acceptable, it’s downright desirable. They may require occasional polishing, but the goal is no longer that blinding glossiness. ![]() Unlike the perpetually shiny lacquerd brass that was popular in the ’70s and ’80s, most pieces today are left unfinished. It won’t rust, and it can be forged into a variety of shapes. And with good reason: The metal, an alloy of copper and zinc, is strong. ![]() Thanks to the renewed interest, both mainstream design shops and specialty boutiques now stock brass wares. I have amassed a large collection of brass treasures, particularly trays, from all over the globe. People are rediscovering how beautiful it is. With the appetite for nickel and chrome at its saturation point, brass is returning to the forefront of the design world. From small moments to large statements, today’s brass is tasteful and elegant - with gorgeous patina to spare.īrass is back. What was once considered, well, brassy, is now something to covet and keep. ![]()
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