Blackening Brass (Obi Grenade, etc.)

[Serafino]

Just ran across these detailed directions for a method of getting a controlled black on brass, all the way to full black!

http://www.modelboatyard.com/blackening.html



More modeler-talk on the subject:

http://home.att.net/~ShipModelFAQ/smf-q033.html


_____________

From a telescope-making list in 1997:

"As promised here is Neale Howards method of blackening brass.
I have not tried this out, so I can't say how well it works. And I
don't know how easy the chemicals are to get.

"you can make up a chemical blackening solution by using
8 ounces of photographers hypo (sodium thiosulphate) and 4 ounces
of lead acetate dissolved in 2 quarts of water. You can buy these
chemicals from any drugstore. Soak all the parts of the spider
assembly (no need to take apart to do this) until the brass is
uniformly black. This produces a thin layer of black copper
sulphide overl all surfaces. Blackening brass in this way is more
satisfactory than using paint because the coating will not chip
or flake as paint sometimes does."

It would be good to hear from anyone that has tried this."

___________________________

Engraver's talk:

http://www.igraver.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2478

____________________________

Another formula:

http://chestofbooks.com/reference/H...ipes-Processes-Vol1/Black-Color-on-Brass.html


______________________________

General patina info:

http://asuwlink.uwyo.edu/~metal/patinas.html

 

[scarf man]

Good stuff Andreas, thanks.