Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-25-2020, 06:58 PM   #1
John Dayhuff
Senior Member
 
John Dayhuff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Posts: 164
Default How to age Caledon tubing?

Hi Everyone,
I'm going to replace a piece of gas line tubing with a new piece that I bought from Snyders but I want to give it that "patina" look of 50+ years old so that it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb next to everything else under the hood. Any ideas of what it's made out of and how I can age it without waiting another 50 years?
Thanks,
__________________
John
John Dayhuff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 08:12 PM   #2
wmws
BANNED
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Coatesville, Pa
Posts: 719
Default Re: How to age Caledon tubing?

I made a gas line out of hydraulic brake line tubing. It was a darker color sort of dark green.
wmws is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 05-25-2020, 08:30 PM   #3
Jack Shaft
BANNED
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,196
Default Re: How to age Caledon tubing?

A friend used to soak his Vw parts in brine to "age" them
Jack Shaft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 09:09 PM   #4
chrs1961815
Senior Member
 
chrs1961815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
Posts: 1,371
Default Re: How to age Caledon tubing?

You could try soaking in salt water which would do the job pretty quickly.
__________________
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
chrs1961815 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 09:22 PM   #5
1crosscut
Senior Member
 
1crosscut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 1,905
Default Re: How to age Caledon tubing?

If it has a plating type coating on it a dip in muratic acid and water mix of 50/50 will most likely take it off leaving it bare steel. If you want it to have a rusted type look spray it with salt water mix and let dry. Spray and let dry. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Drying in between is important as steel needs oxygen to rust.
__________________
Dave / Lincoln Nebraska
1crosscut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2020, 03:54 AM   #6
dumb person
Senior Member
 
dumb person's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: South pacific island
Posts: 1,724
Default Re: How to age Caledon tubing?

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Yuck, use no corrosives or you might as well have used a line you found in a wreck in a forest.

I use linseed oil, leave item in the sun, or bake lightly after applying. You're not trying to cook it. Just dry it. I left a set of new keys dipped in linseed oil on top of the toaster for a few cycles. Dried ok.
It ages & goes brown rather quickly when heated.
__________________
<Link> This is how we roll<Link>

"I'm Convinced that no one really reads posts anymore; they just fabricate what they think the post says then ramble on about red herrings."--Bob
Outcasts rules of old cars
#1 Fun is imperative, mainstream is overrated
#2 If they think it is impossible, prove them wrong
#3 If the science says it impossible you are not being creative enough.
#4 No shame in recreating something you never had
#5 If it were not for the law & physics you would be unstoppable
dumb person is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2020, 08:16 AM   #7
MikeK
Senior Member
 
MikeK's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Windy City
Posts: 2,919
Default Re: How to age Caledon tubing?

The original gas line was terne coated seamed steel tubing. Terne is an alloy of less than 20% tin, sometimes 1 or 2% antimony, and the remainder lead. It quickly aged to a dull 20% brightness gray color. The quickest cover up that is about the same appearance and that will hold up without damaging the new line is a rattle can of dull zinc rich 'galvanize'. Not the expensive shiny stuff, the standard dull kind.

Of course, if you are into fine-point or want the absolutely untouched, un-restored, all original parts look, you can get a long length of today's electro-zinc plated steel line, set up a fixture and profiled tool bit to cut the appearance of the original seam, mix up your own terne, use an acid flux and a pad like an old-time plumber making a wiped joint, and wipe the terne onto the tube at about 700F. Then if you want the aged look just wait!
MikeK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2020, 04:51 PM   #8
Ak Sourdough
Senior Member
 
Ak Sourdough's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 126
Default Re: How to age Caledon tubing?

For quick darkening, you might try scuffing it with a scotchbrite pad and wiping some old black waste oil on it to get some carbon in the new scratches.
Ak Sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2020, 09:47 PM   #9
John Dayhuff
Senior Member
 
John Dayhuff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Posts: 164
Default Re: How to age Caledon tubing?

Thanks for the ideas so far guys, keep them coming.
__________________
John
John Dayhuff is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:25 PM.