This is the process I use to artificially/chemically age metal, I have done for a number of years now. It works on most metals including Steel, Brass, Copper and even Aluminium. It works in seconds. Some metals it will properly rust, some it will just age. This specific ageing chemical is fairly new to me, and seems to work better than some of the others I have tried. I used this process on the EvilDeadChainsaws.com saws I made (including the chainsaw blades, Workshed lid, and all the fixings), along with a number of other projects here and there. All the below ageing examples were done in a few minutes from shiny clean metal.
You need the following;
Metal Antiquing Fluid (I use Black)
http://www.jpennyltd.co.uk/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=50
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metal-Antiquing-Fluid-Patination-Solutions-for-Various-Metals/391536765728
GoSystem Auto Start Blow Torch
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GoSystem-Auto-Start-Blow-Torch/dp/B009OCBQPS/
GoSystem 2350 70:30 Butane Propane Mix Gas Cartridge EN417 (350g)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GoSystem-2350-70-Cartridge-Threaded/dp/B07SD9NXSH/
Hand/Pump Spray Bottle (Any model will do, this is an example)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Agralan-10937507-Birchmeier-Spraying-Handsprayer/dp/B0033VQ61A/
White Spirit
Kitchen Roll
To start with, clean the metal you're ageing with white spirit and kitchen roll. As the reaction is a chemical one, if your metal is coated in oil, grease or dirt, then the chemical can't react with the surface of the metal.
The darkening fluid comes with instructions to dilute, but I just use it neat. Pour the darkening fluid into your pump sprayer. I use this as if you apply the fluid with a brush or cloth, you tend to end up with swipe/brush marks in the metal.
Now, you can either spray your metal and let it dry. This will give an even blackening. Or you can use a blowtorch which will give much better effects. Set the metal up on a piece of wood, something you don't mind ruining. Squirt the fluid onto the metal. Straight away go in with the blowtorch, you'll see the fluid drying off, darkening the metal and creating a rough patina. You can spray more on to add to the ageing, and hold the sprayer up above to give a light dusting of droplets to get different effects and patterns. If you need to, you can use a paintbrush to get the fluid into any little recesses the spray has missed.
Doing this will just take 10 seconds or so for a small item like the below examples. Once you're done, that's it. You don't need to do anything else to it. No clearcoat or varnish. You have a pretty durable finish that won't rub or scratch off.
If you have a large piece of metal, like a chainsaw guide bar, I used to put a layer of kitchen roll over the facing side, then spray on top of that till it's wet though, then remove the kitchen roll and blot the metal dry with more roll. This tends to give a fairly even darkening across the whole blade, with some patterning.
Copper
Aluminium
Brass
Steel
Metal Chemical Ageing Process
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EvilDeadChainsaws
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Metal Chemical Ageing Process
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