Changing Metal to Brass- with a $12 tool (Easy DIY Brass Plating)

The saga of my schoolhouse door restoration continues! But this tactic to re-plate the brass hardware was so satisfying. Initially I wasn’t planning to re-plate the hinges… but I’m addicted and now I think I have to.
If you do this, make sure the brushes you get are 100% brass. Otherwise it WILL NOT WORK. I’ve got the brushes linked below with a few of the other tools!
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Below are all of the items I used to finish this project. As a disclaimer, some of the links above may be affiliate links. Things you buy through some links may earn a small commission that will go straight into fixing up the schoolhouse!
•Brass brushes for your drill: amzn.to/4acdRvC
•Bernzomatic torch, we use this in the kitchen too: amzn.to/3RyWQEC
•Minwax satin lacquer for sealing the brass: amzn.to/3Tg2Lj0
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Follow me on Instagram/TikTok to see updates that you won't see here on KZbin:
/ schoolhousehomestead
/ schoolhousehomestead

[@2AZSUN]

Necessity is the mother of all invention. This mother is a genius at invention!! That turned out really well. After all, it is an old school, there should definitely be new things learned!! 👏👏👏👏

[@slgoad]

Wow, I never heard of this technique. So cool and doable! Enjoying the journey of your school house restoration.

[@Schoolhousehomestead]

Thank you so much!!

[@systemBuilder]

Wow! Wow! Wow! this is fantastically good news! I have an old bicycle freewheel and with just a tiny bit of polish I removed the brass finish by mistake (it was tarnished). I will be adding back the finish tomorrow, thanks!

[@1001reasons1968]

Fantastic! I love to see even the little things being restored.

[@PentallMcwint3r]

KZbin: “hey wanna see someone turn a old school into their home?” Me: “sure why not”

[@Schoolhousehomestead]

😂😂😂

[@kathrinekerns8398]

Very resourceful. I think they turned out perfectly.

[@BIGGER_RED]

I LOVE the little things like this!!!

[@mclemay6703]

🤯Wow! That is BRILLIANT!! Amazing!

[@ganymededarling]

Ok my mind is blown a little 🤯

[@angelavorhees5946]

That was totally amazing. Looked like magic. Thanks for sharing.

[@garyjones2582]

Love your channel, thx for bringing us along... Take care and God Bless...

[@Judamac]

Hi from Canada I am enjoying your videos.Amazing Work.

[@drewe2331]

Lovely! I'll be copying you x80

[@Schoolhousehomestead]

good luck!!!

[@johnmuncy4872]

That's amazing and the money your saving is unbelievable. Way to go.

[@jenniesmythe8188]

I’m tempted to do this on stainless steel appliance handles.

[@Henker2]

That's a whole lot of back plates and knobs. The ones in my house were also brass, but, of course, they tarnished to a black. They were made in 1919. Watchingbthks ks making me think on redoing mine.

[@PrideSage99]

admittedly, I was searching for a chemical solution similar to copper+boric acid compound for electroless plating, but this is actually so simple that I have to give it a try. Almost tempted to try with a high-carbon steel just for shits and grins.

[@CathyMiller0711]

Well that's incredible! Who knew?

[@judyrosy]

Fan.....FREAKING......tastic!!!!!

[@johnsoutdooradventures3293]

Wow, cool process!

[@toobusy63]

Fabulous ❤

[@trinacria1956]

This great! Have a art deco themed guitar project based around a cool art deco brass plate but rest of parts chrome so this could be the key to my dilema. Thanks.

[@LastChanceTinyHouse]

Have you thought about using a polishing compound on your brass or perhaps a light varnish to shine and protect the brass.?

[@beccagee5905]

Best hack evvvver! ❤

[@Starrynite11]

That’s really cool!

[@moparman1962]

You're a pretty smart Mommy...do you work part-time for NASA from home as well? Great job with the tile mosaic project, refinishing the doors and replating the door hardware with brass...very impressive work!

[@CMcD630]

Awesome!

[@ewelina3817]

wow this is just amazing !!!!!!!!🤓

[@Shadowgrey5937]

you friggin rock!!!!! new fan ❤

[@NefertitiThomas-Director]

impressive

[@janett12274]

Amazing! ❤

[@cottagekeeper]

So cool!!!

[@asclay2004]

that's so cool!

[@przemyslawbrys]

I discovered same method while using brass wheel to clean steel after derusting.

[@sneakerphotgrapher]

You're awesome 🤗

[@PlatingPulse23]

First of all I would like say " YOU GOT SCHOOL AS A HOUSE!!!!!!!!!! That effing cool !!!

[@judylapointe3507]

WOW

[@wurly164]

Lady, you have ...class😂

[@redbeard172]

Have the door knobs held up well? Would love to use this technique for our 1940s door handle

[@Davesobscurevideos]

There’s a fair chance they had a nickel plating over the brass. I work in a 100 year old school building and much of the original hardware is in tact. The hardware is brass underlayment with nickel plating in various states of wear. (Whether the hardware is solid brass or steel with brass plating I do not know)

[@Schoolhousehomestead]

Oh that’s fascinating, Ty for the info!

[@MS-gn4gl]

ya brass was a ton easier and cheaper to cast because it was the go-to casting material for anything decorating or not under major stress or needing strength.

[@Davesobscurevideos]

@@MS-gn4gl thanks! I always wondered that. Wonder if prices for metals in our modern economy are the same.

[@Harry-TramAnh]

I pay $1.32 per KG of steel and $9.80 for brass.

[@myralewis1714]

Amazing!

[@ChristianSouthernGirl]

Wow!

[@Whatsacody]

KZbin knows whats good.

[@denisewiebrimmer454]

So interesting

[@TamarLitvot]

How did you come up with this idea? It's amazing. And it looks like fun!

[@Schoolhousehomestead]

A mix of KZbin and TikTok!

[@ΠΕΤΡΟΣΚΟΥΚΟΥΛΟΜΑΤΗΣ]

Excellent video.Does this technique work on zamak metal?

[@joeljay8471]

Absolutely great. But. The amount of time ordering material, trips, etc, along with the time it takes to complete the process, all factor into price. So when comparing, especially when your time could’ve been spent on other parts of the project or, even better, earning at a full or part time job, it’s helpful understanding timeframes for completing tasks. The web and especially KZbin are rife with, “look what I did to save money”, that really don’t save money.

[@user-ke2up6mr8t]

Maybe not to your taste but home theater and golf driving simulator would be cool. Two things which most people do not have the luxury to have the correct ceiling height.

[@Schoolhousehomestead]

My brother in law would definitely appreciate a golf driving simulator!

[@user-ke2up6mr8t]

I look at your home and notice the ridiculously tall ceilings which 99.9% of residential homes do not have. I would look into things that these homes typically cannot accomodate. How tall are your ceilings? they look at least 14 feet@@Schoolhousehomestead

[@Schoolhousehomestead]

@@user-ke2up6mr8t 13!

[@jay_jjacobsen6695]

I don't get it. The plates were brass to begin with? You heated an area, then the brass from the brush drill bit melted off the brass brush bit and stuck to the brass plate permanently?

[@Toimu13]

She had brass plates in some of the house, and steel plates in the rest of the house.

[@Raj-y9q]

I would highly appreciate some clarification as I’m confused You show different type of brushes- first a scrubbing brush but then when you use the fire tool you are brushing with a different bristle brush attachment Is the first brush you show is to strip off any old polish and or to polish? And then the bristle brush to re- finishing / re- plate? When you heat the metal how does it turn gold?

[@Schoolhousehomestead]

Correct! The first brush is a wire wheel brush that goes on a bench grinder. The second brush I've linked in my description! It works because it actually melts the metal from the brush and coats the thing you're heating!

[@loverlyme]

I'm not sure I understand the technique here. You said to heat up the metal enough for the brass to adhere to it. Does that mean you are adding a brass compound to adhere to the metal? Or is simply reheating an already brass-plated piece of metal enough to bring back the brass finish?

[@HVXmania]

I have the same question

[@HVXmania]

Ok, so it seems, for anyone wondering, indeed, you use a brass brush which melts a fine layer onto the steel. It looks like a little goes a long way. This video goes into more detail about it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqPbe2OHes2NfKc

[@loverlyme]

@@HVXmania 🤎❤🤎 From there many other questions are answered including the idea of electroplating instead. Thanks for the vid link.

[@HVXmania]

@@loverlyme You're very welcome :)

[@pandroidigital]

Can I do this with aluminum? Worried about the aluminum melting during the hearing process.

[@chabat124]

Did the brass wire brushes go a long way?

[@maeveLCurtis]

Could you patina this thin brass layer??

[@IamSnowbird]

Amazing but what gives it the brass color? The heat or the brass brush?

[@Schoolhousehomestead]

The brass from the brush melts to the plate!

[@Kimella777]

❤🤩wow

[@mauricepowers3804]

After drying, did you buff the rub n buff with the cloth provided?

[@Schoolhousehomestead]

There was no cloth provided

[@Jan-2020]

How much land (acres maybe) that came with the schoolhouse?

[@Schoolhousehomestead]

3!

[@peter_bazinet]

OH MY GOSH, is there ANYTHING you can't do???????

[@davidbeetham8481]

Agreed you NEED to install HEAPS AND HEAPS of solar panels outside. This will help your power bill Immensely - And your wallet...

[@HLS70]

Crockpot.