Preparations

• 1). Lay down paper towels on a table. This is for preventing solution leaks and accidental scratches to your table's surface.
  
  
• 2). Prepare your workspace. Lay your guitar flat on the table with all of your supplies nearby.
  
  
• 3). If you are working with new disassembled parts, skip this step. If not, disassemble the guitar and place the pieces of hardware in a bowl. Note: It is not necessary to disconnect wires, so do your best to keep everything in place.
  
  

Aging Parts

• 1). Using steel wool or fine-grit sandpaper, gently rub off the outer layer of the metal parts. For a uniform finish, make sure each piece you have is done evenly and with as much work as the next one (for example: tuners should all look the same). The metal should retain its color but without the gloss from before.
  
  
• 2). Put on latex gloves. This will protect your skin in case you spill or if you choose to use your fingers to work in the solution.
  
  
• 3). Pour etching solution into a small medicine bottle until it fills halfway. Fill the bottle to the 3/4 mark with water and stir using your paintbrush. Using this mixture will help moderate the aging speed.
  
  
• 4). Apply the diluted solution with your paintbrush evenly to the metal parts that will be exposed. If desired, use your fingers to work it in. Continue to monitor parts that you have done; the solution has the potential to work quickly on smaller parts.
  
  
• 5). When a part has responded to the solution as much as you would like, rinse it off with water. Apply silicone spray, and let it sit to dry for an hour or so. Note: The etching solution may continue to work if you fail to stop it.
  
  
• 6). If you still want more aging to occur, do not spray the silicone. Instead, repeat steps 4 and 5.