How to age pickup covers?

[ledzepp29]

I was wonderin if any one could help me out. I've had my les paul for 2 years and i play it all the time, so the humbucker covers are not very shiny any more. I really like how this looks, it gives off a really comfortable vibe, its not as worn looking as antiquities but its not as shiny as new ones. i am buying a les paul classic and am installing a humbucker cover only on the neck pu. i was wonderin what substance or trick i can use to get it to not be so shiny, i read somewhere that white vinegar has some effect but im not sure, i would like it to look fairly worn but not so worn that it would look odd compared to the shiny bridge and tailpiece, and its on a lightburst finish. if anyone has any suggestions please post , thanks

o ya and if u didnt notice im goin for Pages #1 look haha

 

[seafoamer]

Re: How to age pickup covers?

U could always take the cover off & pee on it. Dunno if it'll work, but since pee is free it's at least worth the try.

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: How to age pickup covers?

hahahahha ,dude thats hilarious i should try it piss has some kind of acid type chemicals in it right at least somthin that would dull the shinny nickel

thanks

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: How to age pickup covers?

Maybe a little light grade steel wool will take some of the shine off it? It
depends on the degree you want to go? I know Butnut uses some acid
from Radio shack to relic hareware, But that may be to extreme for what
your going for. I've used steel wool on hardware and soaked it in salt water
It worked pretty good Oxidizing the chrome. Try the steel wool 1st, That
should get you close to the effect your describing.

BTW try it on the side of the cover 1st where its not visable just to be safe

 

[mrid]

Re: How to age pickup covers?

I know Butnut uses some acid
from Radio shack to relic hareware

Yes, I believe it's the same stuff used to etch circuits. IIRC, Butnut dilutes it a bit.

 

[seafoamer]

Re: How to age pickup covers?

Have u tried the pee-pee?

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: How to age pickup covers?

haha, no not yet i gotta get the money for the covers first

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: How to age pickup covers?

i also gotta get the money for the guitar haha , i got like a grand saved up from some publix paychecks

 

[proxy]

Re: How to age pickup covers?

Yes, I believe it's the same stuff used to etch circuits. IIRC, Butnut dilutes it a bit.

Actually its a really really strong base I think if i remember.

 

[Ez74]

Re: How to age pickup covers?

i just read somewhere that if you soak them in vinegar it will tarnish them and give them the aged look. I havent tried it

 

[Cory_Dylan]

Re: How to age pickup covers?

i just read somewhere that if you soak them in vinegar it will tarnish them and give them the aged look. I havent tried it

I'm sure that would work. But if you do that too long you'll get these weird corroded rainbow swirls.

 

[butnut]

Re: How to age pickup covers?

I used the RS ferrous chloride (5 bucks a bottle) and it's very strong stuff. I think it really funks up nickel faster than a good chrome plating and steel screws get rotten in seconds. I would dunk pup covers in a very diluted solution, maybe 10 parts water to 1 part chemical, check every few seconds and have a fresh pot of water to dunk in to stop the chemical from burning more...wear gloves. It's all experemental and different platings will react differently, fast or slow. Have fun.
Age that metal...