Harry P. Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Besides "Blacken-It" and other commercial products, is there any "home-brew" type concoction that will blacken brass the same way?
Rob Z Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Besides "Blacken-It" and other commercial products, is there any "home-brew" type concoction that will blacken brass the same way? Wouldn't the acids in white vinegar do the trick??? If I remember my science correctly I think it might...
Jairus Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 Pure Ammonia fumes will. Pour a 1/4" of ammonia into the bottom of a large cottage cheese container. Poke a hole and stick a paperclip through the hole hanging down from the lid. Hang your part off the hook and warm the ammonia in a microwave for 20 seconds then remove and pop on the lid sealing it with-out breathing in the fumes. Should not take more than 10 minutes to begin darkening the brass to a nice warm brown. Leave it in too long you might need to steel wool the brass and try again.
Harry P. Posted March 17, 2011 Author Posted March 17, 2011 Pure Ammonia fumes will. Pour a 1/4" of ammonia into the bottom of a large cottage cheese container. Poke a hole and stick a paperclip through the hole hanging down from the lid. Hang your part off the hook and warm the ammonia in a microwave for 20 seconds then remove and pop on the lid sealing it with-out breathing in the fumes. Should not take more than 10 minutes to begin darkening the brass to a nice warm brown. Leave it in too long you might need to steel wool the brass and try again. I want to blacken a whole sheet of PE parts... so the ammonia fume trick wouldn't be practical. I was hoping for a simple trick like oven cleaner or something. Guess I'll have to take a ride to the LHS and pick up a bottle of Blacken-it. No problem... it gives me the perfect excuse to drop in...
Jairus Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 (edited) I want to blacken a whole sheet of PE parts... so the ammonia fume trick wouldn't be practical. I was hoping for a simple trick like oven cleaner or something. Guess I'll have to take a ride to the LHS and pick up a bottle of Blacken-it. No problem... it gives me the perfect excuse to drop in... Please explain why it would not work for a whole sheet? But hey... if you want to spend your money... go right ahead. Edited March 17, 2011 by Jairus
my80malibu Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 (edited) Maybe he was thinkin the size of the cheese container was too small for the size of the P.E.sheet Edited March 17, 2011 by my80malibu
Jairus Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 I can understand how limited thinking can do that...
Harry P. Posted March 17, 2011 Author Posted March 17, 2011 Jairus–are you sure this will work? Is the blackness permanent or does it rub off? Is it just the fumes that do the job, or will it go faster if I actually put the brass into the ammonia? If this works, I'll go get some ammonia and a container from the dollar store big enough to do the whole sheet at one time.
Jon Cole Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 Whenever I see a burned out home, everything looks black. Just sayin...
Harry P. Posted March 17, 2011 Author Posted March 17, 2011 Well, I tried the "ammonia fume" method. Nothing. After a couple of hours, still nothing. I'll leave the sheet overnight and see what, if anything, has happened by tomorrow morning.
bill w Posted March 18, 2011 Posted March 18, 2011 Try a stained glass place, they have a black patina for solder and lead it may work for brass. Bill
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