On Thu, 05 Jan 2006 15:36:30 GMT, "Norm Dresner" wrote:


Are there any substitutes for Hobby Black that are more effective and longer
lasting than Blacken-It?

TIA
Norm


Yes. All of these brass blackening products have a common ingredient: selenium
dioxide.
Go to a gun shop and get some Birchwood Casey gun bluing, or any other brand for that
matter. You may be able to get it at any good sporting goods shop that have
firearms, or even a discount store such as K-Mart. Check local hardware stores too.
you'll fid it somewhere. Gun bluing. That's what you want
Another source is flea markets that specialize in antiques and such. There are a
number of brass blackeners sold under various names in those places as well. Again,
the thing is the selenium dioxide, doesn't matter what brand it is.
Selenium dioxide is poisonous, so handle it carefully. The "shelf life" is a function
of the amount of SeO2 in solution and the number of times you use the product. I
never return the used portion to the bottle and only use what I need to blacken a
piece. Never immerse the piece in the solution in the bottle, the solution will
weaken quickly if you do.

Froggy,