FoxtrotHotel Posted May 14, 2019 Share #1 Posted May 14, 2019 I have some brass rings that came with my model kit, and I'm trying to use a patina solution to darken and age them. The instructions say to mix 1 tbsp with 1 cup of water, but after an hour of soaking, the brass (which I cleaned with alcohol first) was unaltered. Is it possible the brass was cut from a wire that came with a clear protective coating on it? If so, what's the best way to remove this? I tried using steel wool to sand it off, but after an additional soaking, it had little effect. thibaultron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druxey Posted May 14, 2019 Share #2 Posted May 14, 2019 Is the wire brass, in fact? mtaylor, John Allen, Canute and 3 others 6 Quote Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series http://trafalgar.tv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM G Posted May 14, 2019 Share #3 Posted May 14, 2019 soak brass in acetone. i use JAX green patina........ can be found on ebay......... no mixing........ easy peasy. thibaultron, Roger Pellett, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Allen Posted May 15, 2019 Share #4 Posted May 15, 2019 I am with Druxey. Stupid is as stupid does, went to Hobby Lobby bought wire that stated it was brass on the back the fine print said brass colored. Found that out after trying to clan and blacken nothing worked. You also have to be careful ordering on line. druxey, Keith Black, thibaultron and 1 other 4 Quote John Allen Current builds HMS Victory-Mamoli On deck USS Tecumseh, CSS Hunley scratch build, Double hull Polynesian canoe (Holakea) scratch build Finished Waka Taua Maori War Canoe, Armed Launch-Panart, Diligence English Revenue Cutter-Marine Model Co. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxtrotHotel Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share #5 Posted May 15, 2019 The pieces came in a Corel kit, and the instructions say they're brass, but it wouldn't be the first time Corel instructions were wrong. The pieces changed color very slightly after I sanding them down, but only in tiny pin pricks, so it's possible I just didn't sand enough. I tried soaking a piece in acetone, washing it off, and then putting it in the solution, but that didn't have any effect. The patina solution (brand is "Bead Buddy") says it should work for copper, brass, silver, aluminum and bronze, but maybe it's just a bad solution? thibaultron and mtaylor 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druxey Posted May 15, 2019 Share #6 Posted May 15, 2019 I was also once caught out by 'brass' wire, like John Allen. So, beware! Keith Black, thibaultron, Canute and 1 other 4 Quote Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series http://trafalgar.tv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cleek Posted May 15, 2019 Share #7 Posted May 15, 2019 Try liver of sulphur gel. If that doesn't do it, nothing will. mtaylor, Canute and thibaultron 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaddoc Posted May 15, 2019 Share #8 Posted May 15, 2019 Might work: Heat with a torch to red hot, using gloves or forceps leave in pickling solution (or just warm vinegar), polish with steel wire wheel on Dremel. You should now have bright polished brass that should blacken well. Disclaimer: My few previous attempts at blackening brass were pretty much disastrous, admittedly years ago. Canute, Keith Black, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Quote Current projects: 21' Fisherman's Launch - plans by Howard Chapelle Completed projects: 21' Yawl Longboat - plans from the National Maritime Museum Deben 5 tonner - a Whisstock yard design 24' exploration gaff rigged ketch - a Tad Roberts design 15' knockabout sailing boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cleek Posted May 17, 2019 Share #9 Posted May 17, 2019 On 5/15/2019 at 2:18 PM, vaddoc said: Might work: Heat with a torch to red hot, using gloves or forceps leave in pickling solution (or just warm vinegar), polish with steel wire wheel on Dremel. You should now have bright polished brass that should blacken well. Disclaimer: My few previous attempts at blackening brass were pretty much disastrous, admittedly years ago. Well, yeah, but wouldn't it just be easier to simply buy some uncoated wire and use that? thibaultron, Canute and Keith Black 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaddoc Posted May 18, 2019 Share #10 Posted May 18, 2019 I think so but it will still need to be annealed and cleaned of all oxides dirt and oils. For silver soldering and blackening no way round good cleaning to raw metal thibaultron, mtaylor and Canute 3 Quote Current projects: 21' Fisherman's Launch - plans by Howard Chapelle Completed projects: 21' Yawl Longboat - plans from the National Maritime Museum Deben 5 tonner - a Whisstock yard design 24' exploration gaff rigged ketch - a Tad Roberts design 15' knockabout sailing boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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