How to Restore Antique Hardware
Restoring antique hardware is a simple way to bring new life to your home or furniture. Antique hardware can be used to give a more decorated look to doors, cabinetry and any type of furniture. Since most of it is made of solid metal in intricate designs it’s a simple way to give an old piece an updated look. You only need a few materials to restore it on your own.
Antique hardware can come from many different things. It is typically made of pewter, bronze and silver. On occasion, a metal composite would be used. These pieces of hardware are often decorative as well as very functional. Once the hardware has been properly restored and polished it is worth much more and looks a lot nicer.
What You'll Need:
- Brass Polish
- Small Brush
- Soft Cloths
- Lacquer
- Liquid Soap
- Take the hardware off of the furniture or pieces it is already on. Any hardware that is made from more than one piece will need to be properly kept together. This typically will include small pins that can easily be misplaced.
- Get a bowl of soap and water and soak the hardware. Scrub each individual piece to get rid of any grime, dirt or soot. A small brush or a cotton swab can be used to get into the smaller crevices. Any hardware that is extremely dirty may need to be soaked again. Be sure to rinse off all of the soap.
- Polish all of the hardware using commercial polish. Be sure to use polish that is made specifically for the type of material that you are working with. Be sure to rub them in a circular motion while scrubbing. Wash each piece once you are finished polishing. Rinse more than once as some polish residue can be difficult to remove.
- Wipe off all of the finger marks and paint on the lacquer should you decide to use it. Give it time to dry then put it back onto its original hardware.