Keycap Kevin: a spicy patina for the knob on my keyboard

One of my favourite keyboards has a huge knob. The Mammoth 75 from Wuque Studios is adorned with a 33-millimetre diameter knob in the upper right corner. It’s made of brass and gives off a brilliant sheen. Too intense for my taste. Time for a patina! More precisely, I age the surface by applying heat.

How to make the patina

Before I can get to work, I first have to remove the existing sealant. Since I recently practised sandblasting for the first time, I remove the protective coating using this technique. I apply a blasting agent to the button with air pressure. This makes quick work of the top layer.

After a few minutes, the seal is removed and the knob is almost ready. I also make sure to blow away any dust with compressed air and clean the knob with a silicone remover to get rid of any grease.

Now we’re ready. What I need is a fireproof pad, blowtorch, safety glasses and gloves. Can’t forget the knob either, of course. I place it down, ignite the solder and start flaming the knob directly. I heat it for a little over a minute. During this time, the brass oxidises and changes colour.

Good, but not good enough

I don’t know what colour the patinated brass will take on beforehand. It may turn greenish, reddish or brownish. In certain cases, a purple is possible too. I was hoping for that, actually, as it would fit well with my keyboard. In my case, the surface takes on a matte, brown-greenish hue. Too bad, but I still like the knob better than before.

Interestingly, the underside of the knob has turned a light purple in certain places. Why only there, I don’t know. I can only speculate. According to various instructions online, I should avoid having any other metal nearby while creating the patina. This alters the oxidation. As it turns out, there are magnets near the discolourations on the back of the knob, which attach it to the keyboard. It’s likely the combination of brass and magnets caused this discolouration. Or I could be completely wrong, I don’t know. If you have an explanation, feel free to post it in the comments.

I could now seal the patina with a varnish to keep it from changing. But I decide against it. Although the current result is okay, I’m not done with my knob yet. A patina can be achieved by other means than heat. Next, I want to try a natural remedy: eggs. I’ll tell you what comes of it soon.