How to tarnish or blacken brass?

[JimG]

Have some bright brass that needs to be 'aged'. I don't want to paint or coat it with something. Just want an aged look to it. I thought I read something years ago about putting the brass pieces in urine to age them. :hmm: Is this true or am I off my rocker like usual? :rotf: If it's true how do I go about this? How long do I let them soak?

 

[Norskie]

Gunpowder residue works just fine. Jest shoot the dang thing!

 

[gordy]

Yes urine will cause it to tarnish,You can do the same thing with household amonia.Or do as I do,just don't clean it for a while.Every now and again I get a wild hair and polish mine,but mostly leave it natural.It would take many years for the tarnish to do any harm to the brass.Polishing probably wears it out faster. :thumbsup:

 

[mikelange]

Egg yolks do the trick. No kidding. Also sulphuric acid (used in some drain openers), but you have to be extremely careful with that stuff.

 

[hangfire1755]

I like that! could'nt be more true!

 

[Zonie]

Birchwood Casey sells a brass blackening solution.

With the ammonia, you don't want to place the part in the fluid. You want to hang it above the fluid in a sealed container. It's the fumes that do the work.

 

[JimG]

Thanks.

 

[Cherokee]

Use a cup of vinegar.
I put brass trigger guards and part in it.
If its really polished up I would submerge it a day turning it and dunking it to move it around. Or to bypass the first step sand it to dull it and remove the polish or clear coat that might be on it.
Then lay it over the cup of vinegar. I use an old yogurt cup and wire all the pieces together and hang them over the cup.
Take note: This really works if you leave it in or around the vinegar too long it will strip it to the copper underneath. I occoasionally dip the parts and hang them up again.
I have a muzzle piece it put a green corrotion to.
I layed this piece outside for a month and it didnt do anything but hte vinegar does in a day or two.

 

[rich pierce]

If it's a part that can come off (trigger guard, burttplate, sideplate) and is not soldered, heat to dull red in the dark and dunk in water. This will also anneal it but the brown tarnish will wear like iron.

 

[bob1961]

Birchwood Casey sells a brass blackening solution.

they have perma blue that works also.........bob

 

[Swampman]

The easiest way is to wipe all your brass down with the first dirty patch that comes out of the bore. Or pour the dirty bore water on your brass parts.