At 09:47 AM 2/23/01 +0100, you wrote:
>There is another way to blacken brass besides painting it. The folks who
>do Tiffany glass work use a chemical treatment to blacken their copper. It
>will normally work on brass as well. There are different recipes for this
>stuff and some are better than others so I suggest a trial before using it
>on the real camera. Some versions make a gray rather than blacker finish.
>If you search for recipes intended for optical parts, which should be very
>black, you could do even better, though you may be making the stuff
>yourself (No doubt there are sources for the finished product if you can
>find one.) It is my feeling that these treatments are less prone to chip
>than paints, especially under concentrated loads as might occur on camera
>rails.
______________________
In the U.S. Ryders Hobby carries a chemical oxidation product for blackening
metals called Hobby Black for model railroaders. It isn't meant for parts
subject to wear without further protection. When I use it for brass or
zinc-plated fasteners I clean the part with steel wool, dip it in the
solution for a minute and let it dry on paper towels. Leaving the part in
the solution longer only results in an ugly corroded surface that flakes
off. A coat of clear urethane is required to protect it. An advantage over
black paint is that the clear coating doesn't show wear or chips.
AZ
Maker of Lookaround panoramic camera.
New photos for Feb.: Take the Circle Line Tour
www.geocities.com/soho/gallery/8874/
or
keyword.com lookaround
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