Varnishing brasswork ?

Laquering is its name.

There's only one that's going to work - methacrylate polymer in a solvent. Axminster sell it (Rustins AFAIR) as "brass lacquer". Small jars, so not too expensive. Nowt else is going to stick particularly well to brass.

No. it doesn't last very long.

I have been down this route with guitar escutcheons and knobs.

A clear lacquer of the cellulose variety brushes on easily enough..but its not very tough.

Ditto acrylic.

Possibly the best bet is to use a polyester casting resin and dip the parts in that.

Several times if necessary, and hang up to dry/set in between.

That will encapsulate them in a hard clear shell.

The trouble is that the slightest scratch (even the best lacquer isn't perfect) will allow air contact and therefore tarnishing, which I think looks worse than an all-over patina.

If you try to remove it prepare for a marathon!

Who looks at hinges on the toilet seat anyway?

Mary

For small size articles use clear nail varnish.

Pointless really - even epoxy lacquers wouldn't survive long in the toilet environment. A couple of splashes of bleach and other cleaners...and worse..and there goes the lacquer.

Best bet for a durable yellow metal finish in that environment would be gold plate

Regards,

Thanks Stephen - I would really like to persuade my wife of that ! I'll pass on your comments and leave her to pay for gold plated ones if they can be found !!

Rob

Might be worth getting a quote...it's been a while since I had any gold plating done ( couple of sax mouthpieces ), can't remember what it cost me but I was surprised at how cheap it was. I think if you buy them ready-plated you'll get stung.

You can tell her I see lacquered brass every day ( saxes ), and even in that relatively mild environment it doesn't last. I wouldn't waste my own time lacquering my bog-brass.

Regards,

Rustins do an acrylic-based clear metal lacquer that's about is good as you're going to find for this sort of thing. See