Is there a way to dye brass?

tobnpr · February 8, 2012, 03:37 PM

I'm getting ready to start trimming 9x19 brass to use in my 9x18 CZ...
I sure don't want to get this stuff confused with my own, or others at the range, 9x19...

I was thinking about a colored Sharpie, but was wondering if there's some sort of metal dye that I can use on the cases to distinguish them clearly?

Uncle Buck · February 8, 2012, 03:45 PM

When I shoot with someone who also collects their brass, I use a sharpie to color the tops (Primers) of the cartridge. It wears off in the tumbler, but lasts long enough for me to claim my own.

vranasaurus · February 8, 2012, 03:53 PM

When i shootuspsa or service rifle i just run a sharpie in the rim recess.

10-96 · February 8, 2012, 03:55 PM

I was looking for the same thing some time back for brass separation/idnetification at bullseye shoots. The prominent thing that came up was that the process involves a chemical action/reaction that imparts it's effects on a part of the shooting processs that contains a heck of a lot of pressure.

I don't know the exact nature of the stuff I'm about to post a link to, but if you go with it- I would certainly only wipe the base area where the headstamp is as that's the thickest and most durable portion of the case.

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/b...lution8oz.aspx

EDIT: What I ended up doing was taking a felt tip paint pen and putting a very light ring of red paint into the extractor groove/ring. It stays OK and the .45ACP has such a generous groove and the paint is so thin- it does not effect function or reliability. It also has not ended up inside the extractor or any other part of my pistols.

FlyFish · February 8, 2012, 04:11 PM

Quote:

When I shoot with someone who also collects their brass, I use a sharpie to color the tops (Primers) of the cartridge. It wears off in the tumbler, but lasts long enough for me to claim my own.

That's what I do as well, just run a stripe across the case heads with a Sharpie. When the cartridges are all lined up in a box it just takes a second or two to mark them all. Some of the marker gets transferred to the bolt face, but comes right off when I clean the gun. Guys I shoot with regularly have different colors "assigned" so we can keep things straight.

Ultravox · February 8, 2012, 04:19 PM

I also run a sharpie in the rim of my .45 ACP brass. They really stand out on the floor.

When I'm developing loads I use different colored sharpies for different loads - with a color key on the label.

serf 'rett · February 8, 2012, 04:57 PM

Bought a package of multi color Sharpies - use them mostly for reload identification - color the primer and color the outer rim - no color for minimum load, green primers for next step, green rims for third step, then blue, then red, and finally black for max loads. Makes case inspection easy.

There are some ways to produce different colored brass through chemical reactions, but I can't remember where I saw the link.

tobnpr · February 8, 2012, 06:48 PM

Wow- it's unanimous!

I don't think I've ever seen that before here

Sharpie it is...

overkill0084 · February 8, 2012, 06:56 PM

I appear to have lost the link I had for this sort of thing. After a brief search, this is some of the stuff I found:

http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/pow...ing-brass.html

http://www.sciencecompany.com/patina...ormulas.htm#17

I haven't tried it. I have no idea whether it will weaken the brass. It is intriguing though.

Mike40-11 · February 8, 2012, 07:30 PM

I know a guy that uses Dykem to dye the bases of his brass. Pink. Nobody steals them and everybody knows which are his.

Dykem is a metal stain used to mark metal for scribing layouts.

Jammer Six · February 9, 2012, 12:03 AM

Does the Dykem Blue come of when the brass is tumbled?

griz · February 9, 2012, 07:48 AM

I've never used Dykem on cases, but used a fair amount of it on steel and aluminum. It's designed so it scratches easily with clean lines, so I would think it would come off readily in a tumbler.

woody wood · February 9, 2012, 08:23 AM

i do reload for 9x18 by using 9x19 cases.
i have used a sharpie and works ok.
but since i do some stain glass work,i thought i would try some black
patina liquid.it is used to turn the lead black. it works great.and happens within seconds.i just do the base by putting a thin layer in a flat tray and dipping them in-base only.
google the brand name-novacan black patina and you will see it's in
a white bottle with blue letters and cost around $5.00.
a little goes a long way.the bottle i have i think is 8 oz and has lasted years even for using it for its intended use. have noticed no issues to brass or primer pockets.

Sarge · February 9, 2012, 09:05 AM

I have marked .45 ACP cases, used for pest loads, to differentiate them from hotter loads using the same 200 grain LSWC bullet. Birchwood Casey's offers a brass blackening solution intended for that purpose.

Kayser · February 9, 2012, 12:34 PM

I run a colored sharpie over the case heads when they're sitting in the ammo box after loading. Comes right off after tumbling.

Nevmavrick · February 9, 2012, 03:19 PM

I bought a pack of multi-color Marksalot. Red is fairly easy to clean in the tumbler, Blue is more resistant.
Have fun,
Gene

Jammer Six · February 9, 2012, 03:26 PM

I've always marked the bottoms of the cases with a Sharpie, but I'm interested in the idea of being able to spot my brass on the floor before I pick it up.

Pahoo · February 9, 2012, 04:31 PM

Yes, I too use a Sharpie and in addition, I also use any left over Cold Blue, I happen to have around. ....

I routinely rework of assemble Field Rods for traditional M/L's and to give it an old age look, I carefully apply some Cold Bluing. It turns the new brass a dull brown and suspect that is basically what the specialty products have in them. I believe it's nitric acid. Not sure how this might play in your usage but you can always spot it or whatever. Just be sure to wash off the excess. ...

Be Safe !!!

Jammer Six · February 9, 2012, 06:01 PM

What's an M/L?

Pahoo · February 9, 2012, 07:33 PM

M/L's = Muzzleloaders. Some traditionals are loaded with brass and this helps to give them an aged look. ....

Be Safe !!!

February 8, 2012, 03:45 PM	#2
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	When I shoot with someone who also collects their brass, I use a sharpie to color the tops (Primers) of the cartridge. It wears off in the tumbler, but lasts long enough for me to claim my own. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

February 8, 2012, 03:55 PM	#4
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,159	I was looking for the same thing some time back for brass separation/idnetification at bullseye shoots. The prominent thing that came up was that the process involves a chemical action/reaction that imparts it's effects on a part of the shooting processs that contains a heck of a lot of pressure. I don't know the exact nature of the stuff I'm about to post a link to, but if you go with it- I would certainly only wipe the base area where the headstamp is as that's the thickest and most durable portion of the case. http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/b...lution8oz.aspx EDIT: What I ended up doing was taking a felt tip paint pen and putting a very light ring of red paint into the extractor groove/ring. It stays OK and the .45ACP has such a generous groove and the paint is so thin- it does not effect function or reliability. It also has not ended up inside the extractor or any other part of my pistols. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

February 8, 2012, 04:19 PM	#6
Ultravox Member Join Date: January 11, 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 75	I also run a sharpie in the rim of my .45 ACP brass. They really stand out on the floor. When I'm developing loads I use different colored sharpies for different loads - with a color key on the label. __________________ Come check out my custom 1911 grips and other wooden items at my Etsy store.

February 8, 2012, 04:57 PM	#7
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	Bought a package of multi color Sharpies - use them mostly for reload identification - color the primer and color the outer rim - no color for minimum load, green primers for next step, green rims for third step, then blue, then red, and finally black for max loads. Makes case inspection easy. There are some ways to produce different colored brass through chemical reactions, but I can't remember where I saw the link. __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

February 8, 2012, 06:56 PM	#9
overkill0084 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2010 Location: Northern, UT Posts: 1,162	I appear to have lost the link I had for this sort of thing. After a brief search, this is some of the stuff I found: http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/pow...ing-brass.html http://www.sciencecompany.com/patina...ormulas.htm#17 I haven't tried it. I have no idea whether it will weaken the brass. It is intriguing though. __________________ Cheers, Greg “At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child – miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.” — P.J. O’Rourke

February 8, 2012, 03:37 PM	#1
tobnpr Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2010 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 4,556	Is there a way to dye brass? I'm getting ready to start trimming 9x19 brass to use in my 9x18 CZ... I sure don't want to get this stuff confused with my own, or others at the range, 9x19... I was thinking about a colored Sharpie, but was wondering if there's some sort of metal dye that I can use on the cases to distinguish them clearly?

February 8, 2012, 03:53 PM	#3
vranasaurus Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2008 Posts: 1,184	When i shootuspsa or service rifle i just run a sharpie in the rim recess.

February 8, 2012, 06:48 PM	#8
tobnpr Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2010 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 4,556	Wow- it's unanimous! I don't think I've ever seen that before here Sharpie it is...

February 8, 2012, 07:30 PM	#10
Mike40-11 Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 842	I know a guy that uses Dykem to dye the bases of his brass. Pink. Nobody steals them and everybody knows which are his. Dykem is a metal stain used to mark metal for scribing layouts.

February 9, 2012, 12:03 AM	#11
Jammer Six Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 827	Does the Dykem Blue come of when the brass is tumbled? __________________ "Huh?" --Jammer Six, 1998

February 9, 2012, 07:48 AM	#12
griz Senior Member Join Date: July 31, 2000 Location: Middle Peninsula, VA Posts: 1,588	I've never used Dykem on cases, but used a fair amount of it on steel and aluminum. It's designed so it scratches easily with clean lines, so I would think it would come off readily in a tumbler.

February 9, 2012, 08:23 AM	#13
woody wood Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2010 Location: minnesota Posts: 271	i do reload for 9x18 by using 9x19 cases. i have used a sharpie and works ok. but since i do some stain glass work,i thought i would try some black patina liquid.it is used to turn the lead black. it works great.and happens within seconds.i just do the base by putting a thin layer in a flat tray and dipping them in-base only. google the brand name-novacan black patina and you will see it's in a white bottle with blue letters and cost around $5.00. a little goes a long way.the bottle i have i think is 8 oz and has lasted years even for using it for its intended use. have noticed no issues to brass or primer pockets. __________________ nra member proud father and patriot

February 9, 2012, 09:05 AM	#14
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	I have marked .45 ACP cases, used for pest loads, to differentiate them from hotter loads using the same 200 grain LSWC bullet. Birchwood Casey's offers a brass blackening solution intended for that purpose. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

February 9, 2012, 12:34 PM	#15
Kayser Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2002 Location: Illinois :( Posts: 550	I run a colored sharpie over the case heads when they're sitting in the ammo box after loading. Comes right off after tumbling. __________________ ----------------- Box Of Truth Afficionado!

February 9, 2012, 03:19 PM	#16
Nevmavrick Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2010 Location: Sparks, Nevada, near Reno Posts: 183	I bought a pack of multi-color Marksalot. Red is fairly easy to clean in the tumbler, Blue is more resistant. Have fun, Gene

February 9, 2012, 03:26 PM	#17
Jammer Six Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 827	I've always marked the bottoms of the cases with a Sharpie, but I'm interested in the idea of being able to spot my brass on the floor before I pick it up. __________________ "Huh?" --Jammer Six, 1998

February 9, 2012, 04:31 PM	#18
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Cold Bluing Yes, I too use a Sharpie and in addition, I also use any left over Cold Blue, I happen to have around. .... I routinely rework of assemble Field Rods for traditional M/L's and to give it an old age look, I carefully apply some Cold Bluing. It turns the new brass a dull brown and suspect that is basically what the specialty products have in them. I believe it's nitric acid. Not sure how this might play in your usage but you can always spot it or whatever. Just be sure to wash off the excess. ... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing. Last edited by Pahoo; February 9, 2012 at 04:36 PM.

February 9, 2012, 06:01 PM	#19
Jammer Six Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 827	What's an M/L? __________________ "Huh?" --Jammer Six, 1998

February 9, 2012, 07:33 PM	#20
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Sorry bout dat !!! M/L's = Muzzleloaders. Some traditionals are loaded with brass and this helps to give them an aged look. .... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.