Patina, keeping the age

Tips, tricks and experiences in the quest for the best Victorian Steampunk patina.

I'm careful not to remove all the "age" from old items. A few dings and dents give good character.
Old copper/brass plumbing with limescale is easy to remove with vinegar or lemon. Same for when an item is heavily oxidized. Scotchbrite or wire buff also are useful.

For steel I like to use a wire buff because it gives an excellent sheen finish. For heavily rusted parts I start with sandpaper and remove the bulk of it before buffing.

Check back soon. Thanks.