What do you use to dull out metal parts? Kindof a "relic" question

[krisharmony]

The shine on my control plate on my Tele is too much in relation to the cruddy old bridge. Should I just use a very fine sandpaper?

I'm also going to sand and Tru-Oil the back of the neck I think.

 

[soldersucker]

Some info here.
http://www.stevesguitarsite.com/RELIC%20PART%201.html

 

[pickaguitar]

Thanks for the link...although I can't get past page 3.
4 & 5 seem to not be working.

 

[krisharmony]

ditto, and I think that's the part that deals with finishing the wear and aging the metal parts.

 

[RDM]

PCB Etchant solution

 

[krisharmony]

I looked up the PCB stuff, do I just apply to steel?

 

[Drowned Rabbit]

Here in the Bay Area, the ocean
air does all the work for me

 

[Trandy]

I hear that Muradic acid works best.

But be careful...only use it outdoors with lots of venilation....it is extremly caustic and toxic.

It's not the liquid that does the trick....it's the fumes.

 

[krisharmony]

I hear that Muradic acid works best.

But be careful...only use it outdoors with lots of venilation....it is extremly caustic and toxic.

It's not the liquid that does the trick....it's the fumes.

Oh right, I remember hearing about this. I think put it on a rag or something and then put them both in a fairly tight area, like a box maybe?

 

[Johnnytone]

That plate will be chrome. You need to use a Scotchbrite pad on it (or very fine sandpaper) first to knock some of the finish off. Then you can hit it with some etchant solution/water mixture.

I usually just put some solution on a rag and wipe it on the plate, let it sit a few seconds and then rinse well in water.

 

[krisharmony]

Yeah that's the look I'm goin for. Will enough of that do the rusting I see on yours as well?

 

[Johnnytone]

You can just dab the small screw heads and they will turn pretty fast.

That particular bridge is an Allparts, which is nickel. Nickel will turn ultra fast. I just dropped the whole assembly in some solution and pulled it out after a few seconds.

Make sure you rinse well, and dont get any on the screw threads if you can help it.