Relicing Brass Saddles

Hey - Great site.

Working on first relic - blackguard tele. Things are going pretty well thanks to you who have posted helpful info.

One thing I did not do well - my brass saddles.

Salt solution did nothing. Muratic acid turned them to copper on surface.

Anybody have suggestions? for my "copper" saddles?

Or should I start over? suggestions for better agining process?

Thanks for any info you can provide.

They'l age very fast on their own. I don't know what to do about the copper look that they ahve now, though.

Play them 'til your hand sweats. Do that several times. Instant relicing. :)

Horn players age "relic" their instruments.
Here's a brass aging link
http://www.architecturalclassics.com/blog/how-to-age-brass/

Salt and Vinegar
Flame
Lemon juice
Urine (ages and marks your territory all in one) :lol:

Here's a quick guide chart from that link
http://www.architecturalclassics.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/brass-patination-methods-b.jpg

Oh, was this what the Stranglers were singing about?


Brass is the first thing to patina. Remember that some of these minerals will provide a protective layer that will thwart genuine aging.

Brass saddles age pretty fast by themselves but there are a couple of chemicals who will do what you want them to do and darken the brass up nicely.
One thing that brings you some pretty good results is a stinky stuff called "liver of sulphur" which you have to dissolve in hot distilled water. You make sure that the brass is clean and there are no fingerprints on it and dip it into the hot solution. Best to do this a couple of times and remove it quick so you can see the results.
Once the saddles have the color you like clean them, install them and string your guitar up. Then take some very fine steel wool and go over the area of the saddles that are exposed between the strings and remove some of the dark color and you have some pretty convincing brass saddles...
Cheers,
Sascha

These are the ones on my 1982 AV52RI, all done with sweat but it didn't take long to get the 'shine' off them, that greenish tint came later.

http://www.fotothing.com/photos/ed5/ed5cb2ee024665249e50f6320cead66c.jpg?ts=1211373547

Or you could just let nature do it. Bathe them in very salty water, then leave them ouside in the rain or the sun all day, and repeat daily for 30 days. That ought to do it.

Of course, you'll need other saddles in the meantime.