Black Brass

[Norway]

I've bought this type.



Want information on how?
How should it be mixed, 1-10 water?
Do you wash the brass in alcohol, acetone or anything else before brass black ?
After brass black, is the brass washed in water or something else?

 

[Jimsky]

Hi Knut, I use this solution from the bottle without diluting it with water. The material you will 'blackened' should be brass, copper or bronze. It will not work on steel (at least it never work for me). Parts must be clean from dirt, alcohol or acetone will do, I use vinegar. Get ready Brass Black and pour from the bottle only amount you will need to cover parts. Put the parts inside for 1~2 minutes, periodically stir so it equally covered parts. Rinse with cold water and leave it on the paper towel until dry. Rub lightly each part with felt. That should do it! ...and almost forgot, DO NOT pour back leftover solution, you will spoil the rest!

 

[Bryian]

I wash with Acetone, then rinse with water. After its dry you can immerse the brass parts in the solution . I dilute with 75 % water and it only needs 60 seconds in the solution. I then buff dry the parts with a clean white rag.

Oh, make sure you don't handle the parts with your fingers after cleaning, use tweezers for that.

 

[janos]

I've been using this material for a while and happy with it. As Brian and Jim said, it has to be deluted. I am using a 1:1 water-blackener ratio. It does not work on every type of brass, depending obviously on the brass's chemical composition. Trial and error, as usually.
Janos

 

[Norway]

Thanks for the good advice, Jim, Brian and Janos, I have now bookmarked the tips, which I recently learned.

 

[paulv1958]

If you don't dilute it you will get pitting or worse brittle on small thin parts. It is acidic selenious Acid ( pk2.5) & Flurobolic Acid( pk -1.8) and highly toxic! ( , designed to oxidise gun metal and will eat through brass/ copper. Diluted does the same oxidising just takes a little longer to blacken, but as the acid is weakend does not damage brass/ copper. Normally 10/1 for blackening with out stuctural damage. solid copper IE cannons work well. Etch brass can vary. Copper works well on eyelets.

 

[Norway]

Thanks paulv, I understand that you usually mix one part Brass Black and ten parts water, is it right?

 

[paulv1958]

Yep!, I normally do in a old jar / lip dish. You can always re dunk if you rub back and not dark enough as the deposits rub off and need to be cleaned. I normaly dunk in water after then dry with paper towel ans buff off mess. If not happy with colour put back in solution. Alwasys throw away used solution appropriately ( make up only what you will use in session) and keep bottle closed as it will go off. Suggest disposable surgical gloves when handling.

 

[Norway]

Thanks Paulv