Brass Blackening ???

[Razz]

I have an older TC Hawken that I built many many years ago. The furniture on it is brass and I would like to blacken or darken it. I just don't like the shiny finish. I've used the dirty patch method and while it did take the gloss away I am wondering if there is sometihng else thats more effective. Saw the BC Brass Black and wonder just how dark it will take it, or if there is anything else. I've used browning solution to "age" knife blades (pics later today on one I'm putting up) by applying it and then sanding it back out. Would this work on brass?

Thanks all!
Buffler Razz

 

[DickJ]

HEY BUFFLER
I USE COLD BLUE ON MY BRASS FRONT SIGHT BLADE TO DARKEN IT.DON'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD HOLD UP ON SAY THE BUTT OR TRIGGER GAURD. DICK

 

[Roy]

Perma Blue will darken it, you'll need to put a few coats on it to even it out a bit. It'll wear some.

Heres a brass trigger gaurd that I used PB on

:thumbsup:

 

[George Holton]

Rub it with a raw potatoe to be PC :blah:

 

[Vaino]

I regularly apply 44/40 cold blue to mildly "antique" brass furniture. Apply over entire surface, let dry, apply a very small amount of oil and lightly rub w/ 0000 stl wool to the desired result. Naturally the crooks and crannies of say a TG, would retain more "black".....Fred

 

[bwhoffman]

You can suspend your parts in a container with ammonia in the bottom. The vapors will dull and age the brass. I did this on my TC, I wanted the iron look,but gut old dull brass. works.
do not submerge in the stuff, but suspend fromwire or fishline. I used a coffee can with a few vent holes in the top, changed the ammonia after 2 days and total vapor time was 4 days.
stuff will get green, splotchy, dull. Make sure to remove any oils first.

 

[Deadeye]

Cold blue will dull it or darken it but it won't
ever make it look like the iron triggerguard in the pic.

 

[Roy]

If you are talking about my pic, its brass. :v

 

[renovato]

I've used several cold blues to darken brass over the years from 44/40 to Oxpho-Blue to Dicropan. Every one of them left an unpleasant blue color from the selenium though. Did you run into that problem? How did you eliminate it? I was thinking of just giving in and buying proper brass darkening solution, but if cold blue can be made to work without the "blue" color, I'd stick with that.

 

[Roy]

I didn't have that problem with the Perma Blue. I did have to go over it a few times to even it out though. :thumbsup:

 

[Razz]

Roy, looks great! I'll get some permablue and give it a try.

Thanks for the input and advice everyone.

Buffler Razz

 

[Roy]

Just keep playing with it untill you get it the way you like it. You may want to try that raw potatoe like really old Bob suggested first. Who know's, I gotta try that one myself. :v

 

[Ohio Rusty]

Cains Outdoors carries bottles of birchwood-casey
'Brass Black' for instantly blacening brass. The part number in their book is 02435. Their url is[url] www.cainsoutdoor.com[/url]
Man o' man do they have a nice catalog and carries tons of muzzleoading stuff.
Ohio Rusty

 

[54ball]

Try this, when you clean the gun rub the brass with a fouling laden patch. The brass will darken each time. Over time the brass parts will look ancient.

 

[Cherokee]

Apple cider vinegar will tarnish it.
Even hangin parts over an open container will put a patina on them.
Be careful with cheaper plated parts it will strip the color off over time if its dipped in.

 

[renovato]

As I was poking around looking for solutions to darken silver solder, I bumped into this site.
[url] www.dulite.com[/url]

It had brass darkening chemicals. Just thought I'd toss it out in case it comes in handy to someone.

 

[Black Hand]

I think the parts may have a finish or coating on them that needs to be removed first. Try using steel wool (with or without a solvent) prior to using the "dirty patch" method. This may work for you.