Darkening Pewter Grips

[opsspec1991]

I’ve got Pewter Grips just like this sample picture on my 1911, does anyone have any recommendations on how I can darken the back of them to look just like this one. The one’s I’ve got are shiny all over front & back.

Link Removed

 

[Oldgrunt]

I watched a video of a gun being engraved. When the engraving was completed, the gun was painted with a thin black paint followed by being buffed down to remove the surface paint. The same method used when making class rings. The recesses retained the black but the surface engraving was as shown in your picture. Shouldn't be too difficult. Ask a jeweler what might be used instead of paint.

 

[missoak]

There must be some combination of chemicals that will tarnish the pewter. Then just buff the surface.
I have seen the process used on copper.

 

[olm911]

On copper a chemical called "liver of sulfur " is what is used. I don't know if it will work for alloys not containing copper though.

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[BluesStringer]

You can make up mixtures of various household ingredients, but the results will be inconsistent coloring and coverage.

Bite the bullet and buy something made specifically for tin/alloy base metals like pewter. This is just one among many that are available, and if a 250 ml sample bottle for $15 bucks won't be enough to complete this one project, you're going to have to buy an $81 whole gallon, which would likely do that project at least 50 times over. But the link does have a picture of the results you can expect, and it seems to be what you're trying to accomplish. If you don't like the looks of that link, then the process you're trying to learn about is called "oxidation," which is commonly referred to as "antiquing" or making a given base material accelerate its natural "patina." Do some simple searches on any of those words plus the word "pewter" and you'll have millions of hits from which to choose and learn.

Like someone else suggested, cover the whole piece and polish the top layer of the engraving after it dries. Depending on what kind of luster you're trying to achieve, you can use wood ash (or cigarette ash if you're into that kind of thing) for just removing the oxidation that the chemical creates and a relatively dull luster, all the way up to a buffing wheel with graduation of steps down in abrasion properties of the polishing compound being used. I spent many years silversmithing and always had great results with ash by just sticking my thumb in it and rubbing vigorously over the area I wanted to polish. It's also easier to keep control over where you're polishing. A wheel can get away from you, or get caught up on a sharp corner of the engraving and either hurt you or hurt the piece when it gets tossed across the room or stuck between the wheel and the wheel-guard. Nice lookin' grips. You wouldn't want them damaged because you thought you knew how to handle a buffing wheel when you really didn't.

Blues