Aging with mustard/vinegar

How long do you usually submerge parts? Days, weeks? I had some freshly polished parts in for two days without results, but maybe that is way too short. Or is there any other trick?

I previously used oily paste made with iron chloride, which gives very fast results within minutes to an hour but without really etching the surface. Hence, any light sanding marks remain visible unless you go for a heavy (and very dark) build-up.

 

[Swampman]

Your best bet is cold blue and Clorox if you're in a hurry.

 

Naw, no hurry. Just wonderung how long it takes. But thanks for the cold blue/Clorox hint, I try that out too.

 

[Cherokee]

Apple cider vinegar works the best for me. You dont even have to put the parts in it just suspend them over it for a petina or you can dip them and hang them over it and keep doing the process for older and older look.
I just bought a Lyman Trade rifle and the brass is too flashy for me. I have the parts setting on pop sickle sticks over 2 yogurt cups with about an inch of applecider vinegar in them.
Sometimes the polish thats on new parts takes time to get off. I just let them sit a day and turn them and keep going until I get the effect I want.

 

[Packdog]

Overnight will do for the mustard. Apply around 8 or 9 and take it off the next morning sometime. One application will gray it out. It will turn dark brown and look like you have browned it but when the Mustard is removed it will be gray. It's not very aggressive so no worry about it pitting a part in hours.
PD

 

[rusty]

I just did the lock on my trage gun with mustard it turned out well, It has a nice aged look...

 

Thanks all, thought I´d give some feedback:

Mustard just did not work for me. Maybe I used the wrong type. Only the slightest hue appeared on submerged steel surfaces, but just above exposed to the air it turned dark.

So I tried vinegar, hung the part from a plastic lid in a jar with 1" vinegar essence and this works great. Real nice surface after non-abrasive polishing.

 

[Cherokee]

There you go.
Just wanted to add. I have used this on cheaper brass and it knocks the shine off and gives it a nice patina but on solid brass, I mean authentic brass furniture. IT will turn green if left in the area of the vinegar not submerged.
If you submerge it you need to keep an eye on the part it will strip the brass off of the cheaper plated parts.