Chemical blackening

[Hannes PalingParticipant @hannespaling38305]

I would like to chemically blacken bras parts of a feed pump, does anybody have a idea how this could be done?.  I noticed on a very old camera the lens parts are black not painted, which led me thinking that there must be a process,  any advise would be appreciated, thanks, Hannes

[Hannes PalingParticipant @hannespaling38305]

Need advice

[Dougie SwanParticipant @dougieswan43463]

Check the mags / internet for Koolblack or if you have a gunshop locally ask for cold blueing solution

Dougie

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Another source for blackening products is:- C+L Finescale (www.finescale.org.uk). I’ve used their brass blackening compounds and the process is very easy. I used it on CZ121 bar.

The resulting colour may be a bit “dark chocolate” rather than jet black, but the finish has so far survived 6 months outdoors, half a meter above a swimming pool in the Canary Islands and facing south. OK it hasn’t seen frost and snow (nor will) but it looks as good now as when it was first done, and yes I did use the protective costing recommended by C+L.

Keith

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Oops – that should read “…. protective COATING recommended by C+L”

No connection – just a satisfied customer.

Keith

[GoCreateParticipant @gocreate]

Hi

look for:
Carrs metal black (used to be available at model shops, don’t know if it still is)

&

Birchwood Casey Gun Blue

 

Nigel

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

I may be proved wrong, but I think all of the gun blueing and blacking products work only on steel.

The only brass blacking formula I can find in a search through my gun books is as follows, from an old American publication:

Potassium Sulfide      1 oz

Ammonium Hydrosulphide 2 1/4 oz

1 US gallon of water.

Must be mixed in a glass container.

 

Don’t know whether these chemicals are available.

 

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

search internet-you never know!

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

There are more than one ME/MEW advertiser who frequently advertise blacking chemicals but unfortunately, cannot name them off top of head.

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi,

 

Both Carrs and Casey Birchwood produce blacking products for brass,  Carrs at least uses selenium as the blacking agent,

 

regards

 

Terry

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

Happy to stand corrected. From experience with using gun blacking products on steel, complete de-greasing and absolute cleanliness are absolute essentials.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I’ve used Jenolite Koldblak ina tube, selenium containing. ignore the instructions and use a small brush to coat and ocassionally agitate the part. It blacks steel and will black brass but not as quickly. I finished off the tube using it to dull the brass chain I had to use for my crane and it worked slowly but OK.

 

Neil

[Geoff TheasbyParticipant @geofftheasby]

GLR Distributors sells blacking compounds.   They advertise in ME and MEW.

 

Regards

Geoff Theasby

[Hannes PalingParticipant @hannespaling38305]

Thanks guys for the advice, much apreciated, I seem to have located the right stuff in my country,  South Africa. Have not tried it yet but the sample I was shown looked very prommising.

 

Hannes

 

 

[Chris Pattison 1Participant @chrispattison1]

My trusty 1944 edition of Henley's 20th Century Formulas advises as follows:

1 Dissolve in 1,000 parts Ammonia, 45 parts natural Malachite. After thoroughly cleaning the article, put into mixture and gradually warm until the desired depth of colour is achieved. OR

2 Add a saturated solution of Calcium Carbonate to a saturated Copper Sulphate solution until the precipitate has almost dissolved. Immerse the brass part in the solution and heat the solution. Repeat until the brass turns dark. Afterwards seal with varnish.

Hope this helps.

[Author]

Posts