RE: ATM method of blackening brass

[Callum Potter <CallumP@selectst.com>]

As promised here is Neale Howards method of blackening brass. 
I have not tried this out, so I can't say how well it works. And I
don't know how easy the chemicals are to get.

"you can make up a chemical blackening solution by using 
8 ounces of photographers hypo (sodium thiosulphate) and 4 ounces
of lead acetate dissolved in 2 quarts of water. You can buy these
chemicals from any drugstore. Soak all the parts of the spider 
assembly (no need to take apart to do this) until the brass is
uniformly black. This produces a thin layer of black copper
sulphide overl all surfaces. Blackening brass in this way is more
satisfactory than using paint because the coating will not chip
or flake as paint sometimes does."

It would be good to hear from anyone that has tried this.

I prefer aluminium to work with - is there an easy way of home
anodising a matt black finish ?

Callum


Callum Potter
SELECT Software Tools Technical Support
Callump@selectst.com 

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