They're real metal, but a darkish grey, and I asked David if I should paint them to make them look more like iron. "Use the black patina", he suggested.
If you don't know it, black patina is used by ship and railway modellers, but it's mostly used by stained glass artists, to give lead or solder the dark patina of age instantly. David introduced me to it a few years ago for another project I was working on.
And it worked brilliantly on the little hinges! You can still see that they're metal (once you paint them, they might as well be plastic) and it darkens them enough to make them look authentic.
I bought a smallish bottle of the stuff last year in Toronto at a stained glass supply shop, and it will probably last me years :) You can try it on all sorts of metals. You just brush it on and if it's going to work, it works instantly. Chemistry is magic!
This door will go in the back of the model. It will probably never be used, but it's got damned good looking hinges! It was made precisely the way I made the kitchen door for the castle, but I just bevelled the edges of the boards rather than really going to town on the carving ...
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The Hinges look lovely. You can also use Stove Blacking. xxx
ReplyDeleteLove the door and the hinges. The black patina really did the trick!
ReplyDeleteGreat thing this black patina! Beautiful door!:)
ReplyDeleteWonderful, I have to see if I can find that Black Patina stuff here in Finland :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful door, I really like it. No, I love it!
ReplyDeleteTe ahn quedado unos herrajes perfectos, me encanta.
ReplyDeleteErea una artita.
Besitos, May
That door looks great. I'm really impressed at how much you get done every day. It takes me forever.
ReplyDeleteNina, I love the finish on the hinges. Did you get the Black Patina in your area? I'm in Halifax next week for a few days, and if I thought I could find it locally I would get a bottle. Love the door! You're doing a great job.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous door! I have never heard of black patina paint.
ReplyDeleteWhat would we do without our husbands ...
ReplyDeleteThe result of the black patina on the door is perfect and is the first step towards a dream kitchen :-)
Mini kisses, flora
I can't believe how fast you're moving on this. Brilliant idea for the hinges, I've never heard of that stuff but will keep an eye open for it now. Looks good.
ReplyDeleteThanks, guys!
ReplyDeleteWanda -- I bought this bottle in Toronto, but Cranberry Stained Glass Supply in Halifax seems to carry the black patina ... http://www.cranberrystainedglass.com
Thans, Nina, for this - the hinges look so good!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nina, I'll check it out next week.
ReplyDeleteHello Nina and All,
ReplyDeleteA common blackening agent is `Birchwood Casey Liquid Gun Blue` from gunshops, used to polish gun barrels. They also make `Brass black` to do the same job. If the gun blue is just left on the steel to dry, it creates a rusting effect. Magic !
Regards
Ian
Great job on the doors and great information on aging metal, I think that is the stuff I have mentioned I used when doing stained glass years ago. Must get some!
ReplyDeleteIan -- thanks so much for the tip about blackening agents from gunshops. That's really useful to know, and I love the fact that it could be used to create a rust effect!
ReplyDeleteUn buena idea, realmente aprendo con usted mucho de cosas que no conocía.
ReplyDeleteun abrazo
A good idea, really learn a lot of things you did not know.
a hug
Did you know you can get patina in a copper colour as well? I have some left from my leadlighting days. :)
ReplyDeleteProbably not for your hinges, but applying stove black and polishing gives a beautiful warm metallic glow as well if you need it in another project.