Replies

1. 
   philip | Dec 23, 2006 12:02pm | #1

   Jamie,
   Off the top of my head:1) for a solid brass screw if you wipe on a gun blueing solution like G96 it turns the brass a blue black colour.Then you can polish with 0000 steel wool to tone it.
   2) For a plated brass screw- if you have a brass wire brush wheel zap the screw head with this, but it must be a fine wheel .
   3) for ordinary steel that G96 works -you just stop it when you have the right tone. But the steel must be polished smooth first and the easy way to do that is with a fine scotchbrite wheel, then machine buff.
   4) You get the same result as 3) if you use a brass wire wheel on steel if the wheel is dirty.....
   5) Copper sulphate solution turns steel grey.
   Don't ask me how I know any of this, but all manner of things can be found in my workshop.
   Happy Christmas.

   Philip Marcou

   
1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 23, 2006 08:37pm | #5

   Hey, Philip, Merry Christmas!!  Don't know if I can get bluing -- the little stocking-stuffer present is for hubby, so if I ask him for some it kinda defeats the purpose, LOL!  Maybe I can find some copper sulfate on a Saturday?  Hmmmm.

   Agile kitty you have there!  The first pic, I thought she had a mouse, but it must be the tab of her collar stick out a bit??  We only have one kitty now, and he a wuss, so-to-speak -- petrified of other cats -- so not likely  to have two any time soon.  He a viscious hunter though!  In the summer, catches 3 or 4 rats a day, going across the street to the ravine if need be.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

2. 
   nazard | Dec 23, 2006 03:54pm | #2

   Check your hardware store for RHS stainless screws.  That particular screw should be a slow mover and there is a good chance that the screws will already have a dull grey finish.

   Merry Christmas to you and yours!

1. 
   Ron01960 | Dec 23, 2006 04:27pm | #3

   Since strength is not the issue, you can tin brass or brass plated screws. Just a little plumbers soldering flux to clean the exposed area only. a very small amount of solid core solder. The heat necessary for solder is 700F. I don't know about the newer lead free solders, but because there soft, I fell confident they will react the same way as the older 60-40, 50-50, or 40-60 solders. Percentages of lead to tin. Fine sand with a light abrasive, Scotch bright pads or fine steel wool.
   Solder will run onto any clean, fluxed surface, so take caution. Screws inserted up to the head into cardboard, soldering gun method or held at the horizontal with pliers etc, any flux or solder will fall to the floor. Torch method.This sounds like some thing one of my neighbors would ask me to do. Jamie, you of all people, I don't believe I have to expound on cautions. eye and vaporBest of luck and have a safe holiday.Ron

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 23, 2006 08:39pm | #6

   Ahhhhh, soldering stuff.  That I can put my hands on right in the shop.  I'll give it a try!   Thanks, Ron, and yes I'll be careful.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

3. 
   JerryPacMan | Dec 23, 2006 05:51pm | #4

   Get some stainless steel screws and rough them up with a green or maroon nylon abrasive pad.  Or take some SS screws to your local glass bead blaster or auto body shop for a quick blast of sand or glass beads.

    

   Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans .