Howdy: What does everyone think is the most permanent darkening
agent for detailing? DeDe
G’day DD; Niello, without a doubt, or enamelling. But niello
is difficult and hazardous to make. See Tim Mc Creight’s book
Niello, without a doubt, or enamelling. But niello is difficult and hazardous to make. See Tim Mc Creight's book
Difficult? Naaah. Easy to make. The account by the late
Phillip Fike in Metals Technic lays it out nicely in poetic
detail.
If you make it, do up enough so that it will last a while, since
when you’re done, you’ll not be eager to do it again real soon.
It’s smelly and messy to make.
But not difficult. And applying the stuff is a lot easier than
enamel.
On the other hand, however, anyone with traces of pyromania will
enjoy the processn (I don’t suppose this describes any of us
metalheads, does it? We just like big torches. doesn’t make us
pyros…). Lots of smelly smoke, sulfur fumes, and all that
jazz. Make it outdoors for sanity. For best efficiency in
getting the most “bang” for your efforts, I’d suggest doing it
upwind of any neighbors you don’t like. If they complain, claim
it was a temporary sewer or septic system problem…
Peter Rowe