Relic-ing Metal Hardware and Compromise of Functionality

jaymenon

When you artificially relic machine heads and bridges / saddles with hydrochloric acid fumes - do machine heads become seized/stiff and do strings then bind on the roughened corroded saddles with tuning problems? 

Or are there simple solutions to preserve functionality whilst making hardware look really old?

axisus

I generally take some precautions when possible. A tad of grease maybe on moving bits, and I wash things off well with water and fully dry them afterwards. Small holes in machineheads I blocked with a tiny blob of blue tac. 

WezV

If you can dismantle moving parts first it helps to preserve functionality.