Curator Antiquing Fluid is a cold-patination treatment for creating authentic aged finishes on brass, copper and bronze. Available in Black, Brown, Bronze and Old English Brass, with the Black formulation also suitable for mild steel.
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Curator Antiquing Fluid is a cold-patination treatment designed to give bright, polished and newly manufactured metal an authentic aged appearance.
It is suitable for brass, copper and bronze, while the Black formulation can also be used on mild steel. The range is available in four finishes: Black, Brown, Bronze and Old English Brass.
Curator Antiquing Fluid is used by restorers, metalworkers, lighting manufacturers and fabricators to reproduce existing aged finishes, match period metalwork and give new castings and fittings a traditional appearance.
The solution reacts quickly with the metal surface, allowing the colour to be monitored as the patina develops. It can be diluted with water for greater control or used more strongly when a deeper finish is required.
Suitable smaller items can be immersed in a diluted solution, while larger fittings and fixtures can be treated by brush or cotton cloth.
Please note – Only the Black is suitable for use on mild steel and the Brown is not suitable for spun brass items.
Before purchasing large quantities please trial with a small 150ml bottle or a Trail Pack to ensure this is compatible with your metal and you are happy with the finish and results as this is a non returnable/refundable product.
Curator Antiquing Fluid is available in four different finishes. Choosing the correct colour is important because each formulation produces a different patina.
The Black formulation produces a deep grey to black aged appearance. It is the only Curator Antiquing Fluid in this range suitable for mild steel, as well as suitable brass, copper and bronze.
It is useful when a darker, more heavily aged appearance is required.
The Brown formulation produces a warm brown antique finish on suitable brass, copper and bronze.
Important: Brown Curator Antiquing Fluid is not suitable for spun brass items.
The Bronze formulation is designed to produce a traditional bronze-toned aged appearance on suitable metal surfaces.
It can be particularly useful when restoring or refinishing decorative brass, copper and bronze components where a warmer antique finish is required.
The Old English Brass formulation is designed to reproduce a traditional aged brass appearance and can be useful when matching existing period brasswork.
Good surface preparation is essential. Curator Antiquing Fluid will only react properly with clean, unfinished metal.
Do not skip the rinsing stage. If the treated metal is not rinsed properly, the reaction can continue after treatment and a powdery residue may develop on the surface.
The final appearance depends heavily on preparation, metal type, solution strength and treatment time. Taking time to prepare the surface properly will help produce a more even result.
For the best results:
For larger objects, you can apply the solution evenly with a brush or cotton rag. Applying via a brush or rag can be difficult to create an even patina. The immersion in a diluted solution can help produce a more consistent colour across the entire surface.
Curator Antiquing Fluid is suitable for a wide range of restoration, fabrication and decorative metalwork projects.
It is particularly useful when bright new metal needs to be made visually consistent with existing aged or antique metalwork.
Curator Antiquing Fluid is a cold-patination treatment used to give suitable metal an aged or antique appearance. It is available in Black, Brown, Bronze and Old English Brass.
The range is designed primarily for brass, copper and bronze. The Black formulation can also be used on mild steel.
Yes. Suitable brass can be treated with the Curator range, although the correct finish should be selected for the particular project. Brown should not be used on spun brass.
Yes. Curator Antiquing Fluid can be used to create aged and patinated finishes on suitable copper surfaces.
Yes. The Curator range can be used on suitable bronze to create darker and more aged decorative finishes.
Only the Black formulation is suitable for mild steel. The Brown, Bronze and Old English Brass formulations should not be selected for mild steel.
No. Brown Curator Antiquing Fluid is specifically not suitable for spun brass items.
Remove any lacquer or existing finish, then thoroughly remove grease, oil and fingerprints. A scotch bright pad or none oily Fine 0000 wire wool can be used to create a fine key. For best results, use Curator Cold Patination Pre-Treatment before applying the antiquing fluid.
Yes. For immersion treatment, the solution can be diluted by mixing up to 1 part Curator Antiquing Fluid with 10 parts water. Dilution provides greater control over the speed and intensity of the colour change.
For larger objects that cannot be immersed, apply the diluted solution using a brush or cotton rag and monitor the colour as the patina develops.
Smaller objects can be immersed in a diluted solution. Agitate the items while immersed to help remove trapped air bubbles and produce a more consistent colour.
The solution reacts quickly with the metal surface, allowing the colour to develop visibly during treatment. The time required depends on the metal, preparation, dilution and desired finish.
Rinse the treated metal immediately with clean water to stop the antiquing reaction. Dry it thoroughly and then apply a suitable protective finish.
The antiquing reaction can continue after treatment if the solution is not rinsed away thoroughly. This can result in continued colour development and a powdery residue appearing on the surface.
Once the metal is completely dry, use a suitable finishing wax, protective oil, Jade Oil or appropriate lacquer to protect the finish.
Choose the finish according to the metal and the appearance you want to achieve. Black produces a dark grey/black appearance and is also suitable for mild steel; Brown produces a warm brown finish but is not suitable for spun brass; Bronze produces a bronze-toned appearance; and Old English Brass is intended to reproduce an aged brass appearance.
We recommend trying the Curator Antiquing Fluid Trial Pack first. It contains 30ml samples of Black, Brown, Bronze and Old English Brass so you can test the finishes on your particular metal before purchasing a larger bottle.
No. Curator Antiquing Fluid is intended for unfinished metal. Existing lacquer or other coatings must be removed before treatment.
Yes. It is designed for restoration, conservation, metal fabrication, lighting manufacture and decorative metalwork where an aged or period-style finish is required.
Important: Always test on a spare piece or inconspicuous area before treating the finished item. Remove existing coatings before use, follow the instructions for the particular colour selected and use appropriate protective equipment. Always consult the relevant Safety Data Sheet before use.
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