Blackening Brass Problem and open Question.

[stephenprops1]

I have been restoring an old FIE 45 caliber muzzleloading rifle. I wanted to blacken the brass on it for something different. I used Brass Black solution by Birchwood Casey. All of the brass blackened nicely with one or two applications of the solution except the patchbox. I have worked on it so many times I have grown very frustrated. I removed a coat of lacquer and have buffed the patchbox with fine steel wool several times. I then cleaned it with Birchwood Casey cleaning solution or alcohol. Every time I apply a new treatment, I am getting very unsatisfactory results. Have any of you successfully blackened brass before? If yes, how did you achieve good results?

 

[deerstalkert]

try BC's aluminum black. most brass parts are really bronze alloy and react different.
i did the fittings on my last build with the aluminum black, then knocked it back to look aged.

 

[bpflint2007]

Are you getting a mottled finish or just not dark enough? I do not have any experience with that stuff but I wonder if that patchbox material isn’t brass.

deerstalkert posted while I was typing! I’d try his suggestion.

 

[poker]

Ive used vinegar. Put some in a zip top baggie. Not much just a little in the bottom. Then put your brass in the top of the bag and set it over a box or something so its not touching the liquid vinegar. In just a few hours the vinegar fumes turn it darker and if you leave it overnight it’ll be black. Just remember dont try to submerse it. The fumes are what do the trick

 

[SmokepoleSam]

I guess you have to polish/clean the brass first?

 

[stephenprops1]

Ive used vinegar. Put some in a zip top baggie. Not much just a little in the bottom. Then put your brass in the top of the bag and set it over a box or something so its not touching the liquid vinegar. In just a few hours the vinegar fumes turn it darker and if you leave it overnight it’ll be black. Just remember dont try to submerse it. The fumes are what do the trick

Thanks. I did try letting it soak in vinegar. It failed. I will try your way.

 

[stephenprops1]

I guess you have to polish/clean the brass first?

Of course, I cleaned it first. Apparently, you did not take note of that in my original pot.

 

[stephenprops1]

Are you getting a mottled finish or just not dark enough? I do not have any experience with that stuff but I wonder if that patchbox material isn’t brass.

deerstalkert posted while I was typing! I’d try his suggestion.

Yes. It is coming up splotchy in different areas. --- I tried the magnet test and the magnet does not stick to the brass. Of course there could be aluminum and brass.

 

[pwbsmokey]

Thanks. I did try letting it soak in vinegar. It failed. I will try your way.

deleted

 

[SmokepoleSam]

Steven I apologize, I read it and it went right out of my mind. Thank you for answering my question.

 

[Master Blaster]

For small brass parts which can be detached, the BC Brass Black product works better if the parts are heated first.

 

[ord sgt]

I have used left-over cleaning patches to darken some brass. After a day of shooting and the following cleaning of M/Lers, I will use the patch with fouling to wipe on the brass parts. How much depends on you.

 

[stephenprops1]

Steven I apologize, I read it and it went right out of my mind. Thank you for answering my question.

No problem.

 

[stephenprops1]

Here are some pictures of my FIE Canoe Gun Project. - The first one is of the gun as I acquired it. The second is of the tear down. The third picture is of the trigger guard (that blackened nicely) and the troublesome patch box. The 4th and 5th pictures are of the semi-completed gun. My wife was nagging me about the time I have spent on this project. I put it together to make her happy for a little while. I am not done with this project. I need replacement screws when I can find them. I can shoot the gun now so, when I get to it, I will test fire it again. --- I did shoot it before starting this project. ---- Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions.