frontier gander...that would actually work to a certain extent. the site i was reading talked of an ammonia...heres the links if your interested. they sell the acid..i think ill end up ordering it...

http://www.whitechapel-ltd.com/tech/antique_brass.shtml

the actual solution http://www.whitechapel-ltd.com/Merch...y_Code=antique

pittsburghhunter..i tried that. it gets dull and i get brown streaks from either alcohol or BP residue...but i never got it to look good. heck id like the streaky truely antique look but its always just spotty and rubs right off. i dont have the time to sit and wait for it to build up lol. and in the mean time of waiting im like you...i like the polished look. not the "dirty" look.