Blackening brass vs. painting

[BigBlue]

I am hoping someone with direct experience can tell me if there is an advantage to using one of the commercial blackening solutions on brass photo etch versus painting them (i.e. AK, Uschi, etc.).  If I read properly, the blackened finish is not any more durable than paint, and paint would seem to be more flexible in terms of the resulting shades.  Is it just the simplicity of a bath soak versus prime and spray (and clean the airbrush), or is there some benefit that I am not seeing? 

If the blackening solution does provide some benefit, is it reusable, or one and done?

Thanks in advance for any insight,

Chris

[uncletony]

I am hoping someone with direct experience can tell me if there is an advantage to using one of the commercial blackening solutions on brass photo etch versus painting them (i.e. AK, Uschi, etc.).  If I read properly, the blackened finish is not any more durable than paint, and paint would seem to be more flexible in terms of the resulting shades.  Is it just the simplicity of a bath soak versus prime and spray (and clean the airbrush), or is there some benefit that I am not seeing? 

If the blackening solution does provide some benefit, is it reusable, or one and done?

Thanks in advance for any insight,

Chris

The advantage is that you don't add several microns of paint surface to the delicate brass details. Also the inside surfaces (e.g. Spandau jackets) get treated.

You can use the solution many times. Eventually it will become exhausted though.

[Pgtaylorart]

Even if you are going to paint, blackening is a good idea because it give the brass a bit of a "tooth", ie. a very slight texture which the paint will adhere to a bit better than the smooth brass.

George

[BigBlue]

Thanks to you both for the quick replies.  Very helpful.

Chris

[Michael Scarborough]

Well....speaking as your big brother, I'd say someone with your skills should not allow the cleaning of an airbrush to stand in the way of another marvelous build.

Just my two cents.....which are worth less with each passing day......

Michael

[BigBlue]

You are too kind, but no need to worry.  That was an example of an insignificant "benefit" to using the blackening solution to my thinking.  I was hoping for something more compelling than that, and Bo and George were kind enough to educate me.

Chris

[uncletony]

keep in mind the blackening solution is corrosive; you want to be sure the process is fully neutralized before painting over it, else you might end up with the corrosion continuing under the paint with possibly unhappy consequences...

[Michael Scarborough]

I've used a solution called Blacken-It which seemed to work well to darken the metal, but actually left a residue which then flaked off the PE. It was my only experience with this problem and may have been a problem with the PE, itself. IIRC, it was an unknown brand.

[Pgtaylorart]

Yes, it does leave a residue and it needs to be cleaned thoroughly afterwards, which takes a bit of the blackened effect away. But I found if it's used properly, it helps with the painting process.