Badge blackening

[Sonofacqms]

I recently bought a Witwatersrand Rifles cap badge with missing loops, it was blackened naturally being rifles and when I soldered the loops on none of the blackening burnt or bubbled on the front of the badge or the reverse.

This is something I have never encountered before, how were these badges made that are blackened but not coated with a blackening agent such as paint?

Rob

[magpie]

Duplicate post.

[magpie]

I think you'll find that other ranks badges are painted then stoved on wich gives a more resilience but not with modern paint, officer's badges can be painted the same or blacked chemically.

[Sonofacqms]

Thanks for explanation Andy, it certainly is very resilient to heat and ends up with a really nice finish.

Rob

[Milmed]

Strange, never heard of or seen a Wits Rifles badge blackened before. Was always under the impression that they were always white metal. Do you have a picture to share?

[leigh kitchen]

The one that sold on ebay a few days ago?
(I had it in my watch list but ultimately wasnt interested enough to bid - can't buy everything).

[Sonofacqms]

Strange, never heard of or seen a Wits Rifles badge blackened before. Was always under the impression that they were always white metal. Do you have a picture to share?


Here is the badge with loops replaced, blackening still intact.

Rob

[dumdum]

Hi Rob

Nice job, well done. I think that the colour of the badge could depend upon the alloy used in its manufacture.

I'm also told that there were products in use at the time called "bronzing powders" . They would produce a colour ranging from a chocolate brown to, probably, a black. This was mixed to a paste and applied to the warmed/ heated badge then rubbed on.

The other thought is that, as one member has said, blackening for stoves was very common and that, by definition it would resist heat.

Hope this helps!

[Milmed]

Well it definitely looks black and yes a first for me... I have never known the WR to wear black badges.

I have been told that the SADF at one point in the 1960's were told to destroy all pre republic badges in there possession. Some were hammered, some buried and some went into the furnace. Maybe your badge is one that may have been in the furnace, hence the black colour and missing lugs.... just a thought.

When I did my national service in the 1980's I was tasked at one point to clean out a store. I found an old crucible with a handful of brass SAMC badges that had been torched, some had melted details, some lugs were gone and all badges had a black finish. Took one or two of the best ones but could never get the blackening removed.

Steven

[Sonofacqms]

This badge had the loops broken off, maybe it had been burnt, but when I tried to clean the reverse with a brass wire wheel it was firmly fixed.

I will leave as is.

Rob

[dumdum]

Hi Rob

If you care to repeat the exercise, use a little liquid soap as a lubricant. I use dishwashing liquid and a small bronze brush in a Dremmel.

Historically, a long dead metal worker told me that they used stale beer to perform this task on the polishing machine and the men with a taste for alcohol working there would often drink this.....

Uggghhhh....

[Sonofacqms]

Thanks dumdum for your advice, I may give it a go, but there is no stale beer in this house.

Rob