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The brass charms shown on our pages are raw brass. They do not have any kind of a finish on them, just the raw
brass condition. You may want to wash the brass charms to eliminate any oil residue from the manufacturing process.
To do this, just wash in a solution of dish detergent and warm water then rinse. You can scrub them with an old toothbrush
for those tight spots. To prevent water spots, dry the charms immediately. If you receive a brass charm item that
has a spot or dull look to it, they can be cleaned with any brand of brass polish. After using the polish, wash the
charm with dish detergent and water, rinse and dry immediately.
Antiquing your Brass Charms
You can give your brass charms a whole new look by antiquing them with a dark brown or black acrylic craft
paint. To do this, coat the entire piece with paint and then immediately wipe off the excess with a soft rag (old T-shirt)
or paper towel leaving the paint in the crevices. If you desire a darker look, re-antique it again. If you got
it too dark, simply scrub the paint off with a toothbrush and start over. For a "pickled" look, try white acrylic craft
paint. Experiment with your own favorite color of acrylic craft paint.
Painting your Brass Charms
Charms may be painted with acrylic or metallic acrylic craft paints after antiquing. The paint will
stick better if you apply one coat of spray lacquer on the charms after antiquing them.
You will make your charms go the distance by trying different looks on them to match the project you are working
on.
Sealing your Brass Charms
If you choose to antique or paint your charms, they must be sealed to prevent tarnishing. You can use
a spray or brush on sealer, water based varnish or polyurethane or spray lacquer. Most of these can easily be found
at a hardware store or check your local Walmart. Your choise to select a glossy or a satin finish. Try spraying
your charms by putting them on a piece of paper in a low sided box. Change the newspaper between each spraying.
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