At the Lincoln MRC show in Newark this past weekend, I bought a bottle of Carr's Steel/White Metal blackener, and a bottle of the Brass blackener, and to be honest, I wish I hadn't bothered as results were disappointing to say the least. Despite being applied to cleaned components, and in one case, immersing a bogie into the solution, the nearest I got was a slight brown tinge akin to a thinned wash of murky brown paint. At £9 a bottle and mediocre results, (and that's being kind!), I'll stick to paint in future. Keith.
Hi Keith, I must admit I tend to agree regarding the Carrs product preferring Birchwoods Casey myself, but you may get better results by warming the metal that you wish to blacken. I always clean in the hottest water that my hand in gloves can stand, then dry with paper towel and then use a cotton bud to apply the solution to the still warm metal.
I must say I'm surprised Keith, I have used their brass blackening fluid for years without a problem, maybe the new stuff isn't as strong, mine is at least 15 years old and still going strong. Pete.
I hear that 'Gun Blue' is more effective, and on several different metals too. As there's a Gunsmiths shop in Alfreton about 5 miles from me, maybe I should have gone there first! Keith.
