The garage gremlins seem to have snuck off with the instructions for Blacken It. I want to blacken an N scale turnout fixture I just made with pc board ties & ME c55 rail. Based on what I remember reading, I'm assuming that I can put the turnouts (which I've finished soldering, then washed with soapy water) in a shallow pan, coat with Blacken It, leave it in until dark, and then remove and wash with water and baking soda solution. Any other considerations / steps? Can I cut the Blacken It solution with water? or dilute with something else to extend my bottle? Thanks for your help.
I have a bottle of Blacken It in my train room at home. I can get you the instructions. However, I wont be back home until Mon-Tues night.
Thanks for the offer. No hurry. And maybe someone with Blacken It experience will share, too. Cheers!
I just brush it on after the rail is in place. I wipe the rail heads off shortly thereafter and usually run a Brite boy over it then.
And that's enough to get it dark? Thought you had to soak it. Do you "wash" the rails after, or does just wiping some on provide little enough to stop the reaction at a good color point? About a month ago, I tried brushing some on a test track and didn't notice any darkening, so I thought you had to dunk it. Perhaps my test track was too tacky & dirty.
I have used it before, but its been a long time. First make sure that the piece is compleatly clean. Soap and water, scrub with a toothbrush. Otherwise the blacken it will not stick. Easiest way to apply would be to soak the part untill it turns black. But I have brushed it on also. If you use the soak method, do not throw away the excess solution , just return it to the bottle. After you get the effect you want rinse it with water. Otherwise it will keep working and corrode your parts. ( if you do leave it on without rinsing, you will get a green or white residue on the part, might be OK for weathering ) .....Mike
