Darkening brass

[Dale Lilly]

I know this has been answered before but can't find the thread. I have a beautifully done kit .45 TC Hawken with a nicely figured stock. I want to darken [black??] the brass. Any help appreciated Polecat

 

[pwbsmokey]

Use cold bluing, then rub it back

 

[tenngun]

Shoot, then clean your gun. Save the first real dirty patches. Rub on the brass
Shoot a few times and it will darken in its own.

 

[troy2000]

Brass tarnishing solution. Available from Jim Kibler, Amazon, and I would imagine a lot of other places. I've only used it on iron. But since it's specifically called brass tarnishing or brass darkening solution, I suspect it'll work there too...

Scrub the metal thoroughly with soap and water, wet it with the solution, and rub it with Scotch Brite until it darkens. Rinse with water, hit it with some WD-40, and rub it back with 0000 steel wool until you're satisfied with the color. You can always do it again, if it's too light or the color is blotchy...

Nice thing about rubbing it back is that the corners, nooks and crannies will stay darker, making the finish look more realistic.

add: I just checked a 32 oz. bottle I bought on Amazon. The label says, "Brass Ager," but when I bought it the description said, "Brass Darkening Solution."

 

[Bad Karma]

Remove any laquers that may be present to prevent tarnishing. Pour 1/2 cup of ammonia into a 5 gallon bucket. Suspend your parts over the ammonia and cover the bucket securely. Ammonia fumes are nothing to fool with. I place the bucket somewhere warm with good ventilation and wait a half day or so depending on temperature. Voil’ aged blackened brass.

 

[troy2000]

Remove any laquers that may be present to prevent tarnishing. Pour 1/2 cup of ammonia into a 5 gallon bucket. Suspend your parts over the ammonia and cover the bucket securely. Ammonia fumes are nothing to fool with. I place the bucket somewhere warm with good ventilation and wait a half day or so depending on temperature. Voil’ aged blackened brass.

Good call, on making sure there's no lacquer on it.

 

[Dale Lilly]

Thanks guys. I will use one or all ideas. I think I may do more than one gun and experiment with desired color.

Polecat

 

[Bad Karma]

Good call, on making sure there's no lacquer on it.

Yep, I’ve forgotten that step and wasted a day waiting for the antiqued brass hardware...

 

[toot]

I use a patch with BP, residue on it, and it will turn black almost instantly.

 

[Intosomthin]

Im with tenngun n toot, burnt powder pulled from barrel on patches, will tarnish it in hours not days, weeks...

 

[springfield art]

I know this has been answered before but can't find the thread. I have a beautifully done kit .45 TC Hawken with a nicely figured stock. I want to darken [black??] the brass. Any help appreciated Polecat

I believe there's an actual product for darkening brass, I just can't recall the name. It's a liquid, someone is sure to reply to you with the brand. Try just googling brass darkening compound or something. I've used it, but long ago, might be Birchwood Casey or some such. Good luck!

 

[Zonie]

I believe there's an actual product for darkening brass, I just can't recall the name. It's a liquid, someone is sure to reply to you with the brand. Try just googling brass darkening compound or something. I've used it, but long ago, might be Birchwood Casey or some such. Good luck!

Birchwood Casey, "BRASS BLACK".
It instantly creates a black color when it is applied to clean brass. The surface does not look like old or tarnished brass or bronze. It is a solid black color.

My only complaint with it is, it is very thin and it's not very resistant to wear.

As for the ammonia fumes, not only will they blacken brass but they will also create very small cracks in the surface. The cracks are so small, they can't be seen with the naked eye but they are there. This isn't usually a problem with our muzzleloader parts but if the brass part is under stress, like a brass spring or the threads on a brass screw, the little cracks can turn into big ones causing the part to fail.

 

[hanshi]

Handling and use over time will give the brass a genuine and growing patina.

 

[griffiga]

Handling and use over time will give the brass a genuine and growing patina.

I just never try to shine it up and with time it ages beautifully.

 

[nhmoose]

Brownells Oxpho-blue

 

[olskool]

i use cold blue, then you just steel wool to cut it back to where you want it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,