Easy-Off Effects On Brass

[roundball]

Wow ! The recently posted tip about using Easy-Off to antique / darken brass is fantastic !!

I experimented with one brass end of a left over GM ramrod”¦cleaned the end with Acetone, sprayed on the Easy-Off, let it sit a few hours while I ran some errands, then wiped off the chemicals and was amazed at how well it took.

I also checked to see if it would come off but it wouldn’t”¦even Acetone wouldn’t phase it, so it’s a permanent color change. Appears that the amount of “antiquing” and darkness can be controlled by the amount of Easy-Off, how it’s applied, how long it’s allowed to stay on the brass surface, etc.

I like the power / strength / dependability of a brass under barrel ramrod, so next I’ll experiment with a brass range rod to see how something that big turns out.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

[mazo kid]

Looks like that will work!! I've always just used a dirty patch from cleaning the bore of a gun and wipe that over a brass part; that works great too. Seems to be fairly long lasting but can be removed using polish.

 

[roundball]

I sprayed it again an hour ago to see what additional effects a second coat might have.

If I can't avoid the splotchy look due to gravity making the spray all run down under the round rod to its lowest point, I'm toying with the idea of suspending a full length ramrod in a piece of PVC pipe full of "Liquid Easy Off" to ensure an even, solid color effect.
http://www.instaoffice.com/easy-off-liquid-degreaser.74383rc.0.7.htm

 

[roundball]

Thought just occurred to me...get the rod squeaky clean with Acetone first...have a 10/32 screw in one end with a piece of wire fastend to it, etc...get a 5'-6' length of 2" PVC pipe, glue cap the bottom end, poured in a quart of ammonia, suspended the ramrod down in the pipe, and seal the top for 24 hours?

I wonder if that would darken it...and if so, shouldn't it be more evenly darkened than the spray on which seems to leave bubbles and also 'runs' from gravity.

 

[paulvallandigham]

WADR, Bill, why does it need to be any darker than it is right now??? All you need is someway to keep it from spooking game with flashes of sunlight gleaning off the polished brass. NO?

Birchwood Casey does make and sell an Aluminum black that works on other non-ferrous metals, too., and even on stainless steel, I am told. If you absolutely have to turn brass totally black, why not try that product?

Oh, I can assure you that common household brass and copper cleaners will remove the discoloration of the brass, no matter what you use to oxidize the brass.

 

[LRB]

Brownells Dicropan T-4 works great also, and it's almost instant. It also leaves the brass more of a natural coloration than just black.

 

[roundball]

Brownells Dicropan T-4 works great also, and it's almost instant. It also leaves the brass more of a natural coloration than just black.

Wick, what do you mean by 'more of a natural coloration' ?