Campaign Hardware Question (& Answer)

The question below on campaign hardware came over the transom for Christoper Schwarz. If you’re looking for more info on the subject, click here for the search results on Chris’ blog – he’s written a lot about it, tried out hardware from a number of suppliers, and discussed how to install it.

I have spent months researching campaign hardware, yet remain unable to reach a decision.  Though discussed multiple times in various posts, there’s an aspect of it which remains untouched.

Of course there are a multitude of considerations to factor into selecting brass hardware: cast, forged, extruded, lacquered, unsealed, solid brass, brass played, or even the ratio of zinc to copper.

My question is this:
There is such a vast range of brass available; what are the contributing factors that separate the aesthetic quality of polished brass looking luxurious and rich, as opposed to cheap?
— Carrie

Carrie,
“Luxurious and rich” can mean a number of things. To me, it means slightly irregular, mellow and dull. To others it might mean brightly polished and perfectly machined. A lot of the equation depends on manufacturing.

There are four primary ways to make campaign hardware: sand-casting, lost wax, die-casting and stamping/bending.

By definition, die-cast and stamped hardware is going to look perfectly consistent. The parts will generally be a lightweight metal. And they usually have a brassy, glossy finish. To me, these pieces look wrong on a piece of handmade furniture, but that’s pure opinion.

Pieces made using sand casting and the lost-wax process will be heavier and – depending on the machining – look slightly irregular. I prefer these kinds of pieces for handmade furniture.

However, you also have to consider surface finish. A highly polished and lacquered piece can look wrong on a piece, such as a campaign chest. When I order hardware for a special piece, I’ll ask for the pieces to be bare and unfinished. Then I can tone them myself. You also can work with some suppliers, such as Londonderry Brasses or Horton Brasses to produce a finish that you like. (The stock dull finish on Londonderry brasses is my personal favorite for campaign pieces.)

I haven’t done enough research to determine if the alloying agents used to make the copper into brass play much of a factor. To me, if it looks good, it is good.
— Christopher Schwarz

Ed note: While there’s no brass on a Roorkee chair, it’s just one of the campaign pieces Chris built for his excellent book “Campaign Furniture” (in which you’ll find plenty of brass bits). He filmed a video on the chair build start to finish for Popular Woodworking; you’ll find it in our store as a DVD ($29.99) or as a video download ($24.99). Both include a copy of his PWM article, “Campaign Furniture.”