Anyone know of an on-line source for wood screws with an oil-rubbed bronze finish? DW and I have all dark bronze hardware thoughout our house, light fixtures, etc. Most stuff comes with mounting screws, but often too short for the installation condition and my “longer is better” attitude, not to mention if I lose one or break one. I can’t find a source anywhere. Googled, and only found silica bronze for marine use which is not the same color.
Most recent dilemna is some nice oil-rubbed bronze handrail brackets I want to install over cedar shingles. Brackets only come with 1-inch #12 screws. Just to get to the blocking I installed I need to get through the shingles and sheathing (+/- 1.25 in.). Looking for #12 x 2.5 in.
I’ve considered painting brass screws, but that just seems cheesy.
Replies
http://www.mcfeelys.com has wood screws with statuary bronze finish over steel, plus you get square drive too.
LeeValley has some decorative screws http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.asp?SID=&ccurrency=2&page=48656&category=3,41306,41315
And you might also try VanDykes
In a pinch, on a job where an occasional longer screw is needed, a black magic marker will at least make the non-matching screw head blend in somewhat. Not a cure for your situation where you need a lot of these screws, but still helpful on occasions.
Jim Green
Heat up the brass screws witha torch..brush on linseed oil..flame it again..a few minutes of work and there ya have it.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Most US10-B stuff I see is just dark paint, on bronze or brass hardware. My solution is to take brass screws, strip the lacquer off with Zip Strip, clean them with water, then soak them in oven cleaner. The brass turns dark brown. It seems to weather pretty well.
If there are any chemists out there, I would like to know why this works. I discovered it by trying all the solvents and liquids (bodily fluids excepted) in the shop to see if I could get something to darken the screws.
Jack
Oven cleaner is basically NaOH, a very strong alkaline. It turns brass into some kind of metallic salt which I have no idea what.