Aging a 57 Classic Cover

[greenfingers]

Nice job David, It's a bit harder to match rust when you only have one little thing to age, but it looks good and does not stand out from the rest of the screws. Wich ever one it is?

[David Schwab]

Far right?

Far left! The one on the other end is more mangled, but I didn't do that... I did have to think about which one it was after I put it on.

[David Schwab]

looks nice david....there is nothing like a naturally-aged bobbin....

I'm happy with the way it turned out... especially since I lost the screw!

It will turn up eventually of course.

Those bobbins are beat to sh!t! There are big groves in them from the strings, or something.

[Possum]

...

I ran across an unintentional method of rusting screws, sandblast them then dip in an antiquing solutioin used for blackening nickel or silver, wash it off and leave 'em in the pickup, they rust like crazy....takes awhile...

[Possum]

...........

You'll never find that screw.....I'm convinced that when you set up a work shop table you create a wormhole to the dimension of lost parts, its gone forget it :-)

[Possum]

.....

how does amonia stop the rusting process? Would baking soda and water do the same thing?

[EFK]

Ammonia is a base. So is baking soda and water. Also, a mild solution of lye works. I primarily use these as I first hit iron with chlorox and then afterwards with a solution of aquafortis/ferric nitrate which retains residual acidity. Gently heating the parts and dunking them in the base solution a few times kills the acid and prevents any after-rust. Does seem to work with chlorox alone also, although probably more via it performing a rinse function than anything. I prefer ammonia to baking soda/water as sometimes the baking soda will leave a white or powdery film on the metal which just makes for one more thing to clean off. Lye can do this also, but not ammonia.

[David Schwab]

You'll never find that screw.....I'm convinced that when you set up a work shop table you create a wormhole to the dimension of lost parts, its gone forget it :-)

Here's the funny part... I had everything in a zip lock bag. I had only removed the bobbins to wind them, and then later dumped the parts out on the table when I was putting the pickup back together. I counted all the screws and had everything. By the time I got to that screw it was gone!

I might very well have carried it off somewhere while looking for something.

I then looked through every parts bins I have... never found it. That screw I used was a new StewMac part I had laying around. You can't tell them apart now.

I'm not really into the relic thing, but I was quite pleased with the results. I didn't want to give the pickup back to my buddy with one shiny screw!

[jonson]

well done.

I picked the one on the right as well so that other one has gone in well. I usually dunk the screws in the solution rather than hang them in the fumes and then the rusting can get severe. Leaving some of that plating on sure helped and also reason for it washing off. Nice job.