aging brass

[jim m]

I fumed some brass with ammonia and it came out well except, I got freckles. lots of small black flecks, patina looks good except for all the black flecks. what did I do wrong 

[halfstock]

Jim: I have no idea what you did wrong on that concoction but please don't laugh at the following, the next time just use mayonase or mustard, it works quite well.

Halfstock

[Kermit]

Hey, Half! Any problem with the mayo/mustard treatment on a gun that's already together and stock is finished? Sure would like to tame down the brass on one of mine, just to get some of the "new" off of it.

[Longknife]

Kermit, next time you clean it just rumb the brass with the dirty patches, it will tarnish it real well....Ed

[halfstock]

Kermit: I've never had any problem with it but you probably don't want to smear it on the wood like a sandwich.
Halfstock

[Kermit]

The Scot in me likes the dirty patch method!

[jerrywh]

Halfstock puts mayonaise and mustard on his guns because he might have to eat them. It's not for antiquing.

[halfstock]

Jerry: Been a lot of fellars that wanted to try and make me eat a fire arm, but they took a look in these old brown eyes and decided that maybe the cost wouldn't  be worth the final cost of the activity. 
Halfstock (who is old, grey, and just a might grouchy and possibly a might under estimated at times) 

[jim m]

don't know how this turned into a discusion on mayo and mustard, but does anyone have any idea what might have caused the black flecks when I fumed the brass with ammonia

[JTR]

If you had the part in a sealed container while fuming, I’d bet that the black flecks were caused by moisture condensing on the brass.

John