Birchwood Technologies Antique Black M24 - Cold Brush on Traditional Patina Solution to Create Black Aged and Distressed Look on Copper, Brass, and Bronze (1 Gallon)

I've been using Birchwood Technologies Antique Black M24 on copper and brass pieces around my workshop, and it delivers a proper chemical patina rather than a painted-on coating. That's the key distinction — this reacts with the metal surface to create a genuine aged black finish. Application is straightforward: I brushed it on with a cheap chip brush, let it react for the recommended time, then neutralized and sealed it. The process took maybe 20 minutes total for a small decorative copper box I was working on. The black that develops is a deep, rich charcoal — not flat black paint, but a living finish that has some depth and variation to it. What I appreciate about this product is that it preserves the surface character of the metal. You can still see the underlying grain and texture, which is exactly what you want for antique reproductions or restoring old hardware. Paint would just coat over all that character. The "Made in the USA since 1948" heritage shows in the formulation — this isn't some hit-or-miss product from an unknown brand. It's consistent and predictable if you follow the instructions. One thing to note: work in a well-ventilated area, and wear gloves, because this stuff will stain your skin pretty permanently if you get it on yourself. For anyone doing metalworking, antique restoration, or architectural hardware projects, this is a solid choice at a reasonable price point.

I use this to age engraved brass coins. I've got quite a few different brands since they all work similarly. This Birchwood solution seems to react faster than some of the other ones. It's also a bit bigger bottle. For me it mostly comes down to price since all solutions tend to get you to the same place. The smaller bottle is not the cheapest per ounce compared to the brands but the 32oz is good value. If you've never used it before there's not much to it. You can immerse your object in some of the fluid or apply with a qtip or rag. Wash with fresh water when you think you've reached the right color then use a brass brush or steel wool to clean it up. If you want it darker then just do it again. If it's too dark then polish your item and try again.

This solution is so easy to use. It reacts with the metal and then transforms to an antique black finish. It works perfectly. The finish is beautiful. The odor isn't overbearing like I thought it would be but it's not exactly subtle either. This solution does exactly what it says it's going to do and it looks great when done. It is worth the money.

Patina Solution Did Not Work Out for Me In past years I've made hundreds of coin rings and other coin jewelry. The antiquing process that I used was with a different professional antiquing product. The listing for this product says: "wipe, brush, or immersion process with immediate visual development". I immersed a copper 1971 Lincoln penny, after scrubbing it clean with detergent and a toothbrush. After one and a half minutes in the solution, it was very dark. Following the directions; I rinsed the coin in fresh water and immediately most of the black color just washed right off of it. The listing says: "Produces a deep traditional black finish by chemically reacting with the metal — not paint, dye, or coating — preserving natural surface character." That's not the experience that I had with this product. Maybe by experimenting I could find a way to make this work for me, but so far I would not recommend it. In my photos below; the first two pics are of both sides of the coin before immersing it into the solution, that I had poured into a clean 3 oz. plastic cup. My next two photos are the unhappy result that I had with the patina process using this product. The final photo is another copper penny (ring) with an antiqued finish that I did using another patina product.

Unfortunately, the bottle of Birchwood Antique Black for copper, brass and bronze arrived a mess. For whatever reason, it leaked during shipping. Most likely not properly sealed since the other bottle in the same box did not. I haven’t tried this yet, but have used a number of different Birchwood products in the past for “antiquing” different metals. While I haven’t tried this antique black for copper yet, I have confidence it will work like their other products.

--- ⭐ 8. Birchwood Technologies Cleaning Solution This cleaning solution is powerful yet controlled, making it ideal for metal surfaces, tools, and workshop equipment. The formula cuts through grime, oxidation, and residue quickly without damaging the underlying material. Application is simple — the solution spreads evenly and wipes clean without leaving streaks. It’s especially effective for restoring shine and removing buildup on metal components. A professional‑grade cleaner that delivers excellent results for maintenance and restoration tasks.