how to darken engraving cuts?

[martin9]

I was asked to engrave a small plaque for a buddy. On guns I darken my brass with super blue or HH aging solution and then bring it back to where I want it. The darkening solution or bluing will stay in the cuts some so that works for me. This will be a shiny plaque though so no darkening solution. I've seen engraving that obviously has something in the cuts to darken them. What is it? I tried fingerprint ink but it wipes right out.

[smoke and flames]

I use speeedball block printing ink, oil base, to darken my engraving. Rub it in to the cuts and then lightly wipe it off the surface with a paper towel until the surface is clean and the ink is in the cuts. let it dry for a day or two and then you should spray something on the surface of the plaque to prevent it from tarnishing like a spray lacquer or even a good pasted wax.
Others I work with also like to rub in rustoleum flat black enamel paint in place of the printing ink

[smoke and flames]

If the ink is rubbing out of the cuts then you are rubbing too hard.  I also found that fingerprint ink is not what it use to be. It might even be water based now. But the block printing ink works for me. Just go slow and lightly when rubbing it off

[martin9]

Will do, Thanks!

[Craig Wilcox]

Martin, you can use some felt pads for rubbing.  The kind that one uses with pumice or rottenstone work fine.  Leaves the ink or paint down at the bottom of the cuts.

[Fly Navy]

I've used Rustoleum paint on modern guns with great success, but never on a muzzle loader.

[Kevin Houlihan]

I use ink and wipe the surface with a piece of regular copy paper.  No ink is dragged out of the cut.
Kevin