Cure for bright zippers?

Traci

I just got a knit moto that I quite like, except for the bright silver zippers and hardware.

Has anyone had good luck with changing the color of hardware? I don't need it to go gold, just mute it down to a darker, less shiny, pewter type color. Shoe polish?

8 years ago

Inspiration

17 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

Thistle

Veteran

Hmmm, no idea. I would worry the polish would stain the garment.

8 years ago

Anonymous

Vinegar? Nail polish?

8 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

The more I think on this the more I wonder if you can find another moto without the hardware. I feel bad saying it, but changing out the hardware will either be a lot of work or really risk ruining the garment.

8 years ago

Marilyn

Veteran

I agree with Thistle. If it was just buttons or an exposed zipper on a skirt, etc. that would be easy to swap out. But you run the risk of ruining the jacket by trying to alter the zippers by applying something to them.

There are solutions you can put on metals when making jewellery and doing metal work to oxidize and such but I think it would be a disaster on a clothing item.

8 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

There is metal paint sold in a little marker pen, but I've only seen that used for hardware on shoes, etc. I wouldn't think it would stay on something like zipper teeth, especially if you actually use the zipper.

I feel your pain - many's the jacket or purse I've not gotten because it has bright gold hardware.

8 years ago

Traci

Veteran

Thanks for all the input!

I'll hold onto the jacket as is until I start putting together my capsule. Maybe it's not so great and will be hard to work into the mix and the hardware issue will become null.

It sounds like changing the hardware color is probably not an option, so I'll either need to make it work as is, or pass on it all together.

8 years ago

Laurinda

Veteran

Rub 'n Buff.

Might need redoing after a while, but worth a try.

8 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I once tried metallic gold nail polish on what I considered excessive silver hardware on a White House Black Market dress. It didn't look super even, and it peeled off in short order. I suspect that using a zipper would make any treatment wear off fast, or might gum up the zipper.

I like jacket hardware that isn't discernibly any color of metal. However, when I have something I like I always swap out to gold or silver jewelry as needed.

8 years ago

tulle

Veteran

I second Rub 'n Buff. Comes in little tubes (black, white, pewter, several shades of gold, copper, etc.) at art supply stores. I used it to change a shiny brass sconce to a soft pewter once, and recently applied a mix of antique gold & black to the aluminum legs of an Ikea furniture piece for a dull bronze look. Just apply it carefully, protecting the jacket fabric, and try it in an out of the way spot first. Great stuff.

8 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

I hadn't heard of Rub 'n Buff. That sounds perfect.

I had a jean jacket with gold stitching, just the classic sort of jeans stitching, but I didn't like it against the faded black denim. And brass buttons. I went over every seam and the buttons with a black sharpie marker. It made a huge difference. The sharpie didn't color the buttons entirely black, of course. It just added what looked like a patina. I was surprised by how well it worked. It did wear off after a year or so. And that was a thrift store find, so I didn't worry about ruining it. Not sure a sharpie would work on zippers, but it might.

8 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

A Sharpie pen/texta will work perfectly. I do this often

8 years ago

lyn67

Veteran

What color of sharpie, Deb?

8 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

I use black. It will darken/blacken a bronze and same with gold. And it will make silver more of a gun metal.

8 years ago

Traci

Veteran

I'm going to grab some rub n buff. It sounds like good stuff to have around even if I decide it's not right for this jacket.

Thanks ladies!

8 years ago

tulle

Veteran

Oh yes, thank heaven for black Sharpies! I'm never without one, and they are great for touching up black things and "knocking back" things that are too bright.

8 years ago

Jess

Member

Hi! It’s been a while since you posted this, but I stumbled on this post from a google search for how to darken a silver zipper. ☺️ Did you ever have any luck with the Rub n Buff? Thanks!

2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Jess, I’m sorry, but you’re unlikely to hear from Traci—it’s been over 4 months since she was around. Some people have their IDs linked to their email, so they receive notifications about messages sent through YLF (click on the name & then the “message” button). Good luck.

2 years ago

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