Camera Talk

I recently bought a 9x12 Agfa Standard, which came with three plate holders. I have bought some film, and have made a film sheath (just one so far); I cut a piece of steel the size of my film, and folded some thin brass round it. It looks very home-made, but its serviceable other than being bright-coloured. I tried painting it, but the paint blocks the channel in the fold, so instead I have dipped the whole thing in some selenium dioxide solution they sell for blackening brass. The result is a dark grey, rather than black. It'll do fine, if the colour stays, and that's my question.

The solution I used seems to be used mostly for gun parts (so I thought I'd ask the Americans for advice ). There is an oil they recommend you rub in afterwards 'to displace moisture from the treated surface', but I don't want oily film-holders. So, has anybody used this stuff? Will the colour rub off if I don't give it the second treatment? And have I overlooked a simpler option? Thanks in advance!

The stuff I used came from a gun shop You coated it then put it in your oven at 500F. It went real black and it did not go away.

I agree with Larry. In fact, I think it's called "Brass Black" or something like that.

Micro-Tools.com used to sell this. It's pretty toxic and corrosive, so be careful when you use it.

To "displace moisture" you could try rubbing alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol which is the chemical name. Be sure to do it in a ventilated place. I do not think that the surface will retain moisture anyway, it should be good to go if dried in an oven.

Yes - 'Brass Black' is what I have. The instructions allow for either rubbing it on neat, or dipping the whole piece in a 10% dilution for a couple of minutes. I tried it neat on a scrap, and the finish was dark brown, and a bit blotchy. Dipping went well; even colour, and it looked black at first sight, but a lot of the colour was a loose precipitate that rinsed away immediately. The metal is now dark, metallic grey, after drying on a radiator; maybe I'll give the oven a go.
Thanks all!

A radiator for a couple of hours in the Northern Hemisphere winter should be more than enough drying. I'd be more concerned about chemicals adsorbed on the surface, those might affect film later on.