Copper patina

[paulb33]

I 'm looking for a homemade method of ageing copper to a dark brown authentic patina (not green!). The previous owner of our house had clearly spent a long time polishing up a victorian firehood to a bright shine(aaghh!!).
Thanks!
Paul

 

[Nemesis]

Leave it where it is, light the fire...

I like polished copper. Shame the maids left many years ago.

 

[biffvernon]

Time usually does the job. I wonder if a little weak acid, lemon juice or vinegar would do the trick. I should experiment cautiously on an obscure bit as it might just clean the copper even more!

 

[Nemesis]

It would indeed clean it.

A smoky fire is what is needed!

 

[MdB]

I seem to remember on Grand Designs, they put yogurt on copper to age it. I'm not sure it worked and I'm not sure what flavour the used

 

[Aidan]

I 'm looking for a homemade method of ageing copper to a dark brown authentic patina (not green!). The previous owner of our house had clearly spent a long time polishing up a victorian firehood to a bright shine(aaghh!!).
Thanks!
Paul

Sculptors' suppliers sell stuff for ageing bronze castings. There used to be a shop near Warren Street tube with a mail order department, I can't recall the name though. I have a catalogue in the shed, I'll bimble down tomorrow unless someone else knows it.

PS
Tiranti

http://www.tiranti.co.uk/indexhome.asp

 

[NT]

Mild acids will clean copper up nice and shiny. Copper oxidises fairly quickly, so no need to do anything unless youre in a hurry, or unless its been coated to keep off the air.

NT

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Liberon make a patinising fluid (Tourmaline) for ageing copper & brass. I've used it successfully on brass window fittings. Might be tricky on a larger area, but maybe worth a look.

 

[David Q]

When our puppy widdled on copper it turned green very quickly!

 

[Moo]

But Paul specifically said he didn't want green. So if he has a rather huge dog, he'd better keep it away from the fireplace!

 

[NT]

No1 makes it green, so it dont take too much guessing what will turn it brown.

But unless youre in a hurry nothing need be done really.


NT

 

[Lime]

A smoky fire is what is needed!

From someone who also likes copper and brass to be polished I'd wash the copper with soap to take off any oil then, do as Nemesis says, light a fire.
Anyone who has cleaned silver, copper and brass knows that a sulphurous fire gives off fumes that will tarnish it very quickly.

 

[Antwerpman]

why not clean it up to remove anything which could stop even colouration and go over it with a blow lamp?

 

[Lime]

why not clean it up to remove anything which could stop even colouration and go over it with a blow lamp?

Yes, that might work but the flame would have to be moved about the copper rather than kept in one spot and that requires the flame to be big, clean and hot as copper is such a good conductor of heat.
Also I would be concerned how it was fixed to the wall if it got hot enough for the colour to change. Many types of fixing will not survive heating to that extent.

 

[NT]

I wouldnt do that, unless youre sure its really 100% copper/brass etc, with no solder. I still wouldnt do it.

 

[thiambal]

popping a piece of silver between two halves of a boiled egg and leaving it for a bit (scientific stuff eh!) causes it to tarnish. Perhaps this also works on copper - perhaps not.

I suppose you would need a mighty big egg ....... or alternatively lots of little ones.

 

[Gervase]

The eggy thing gets the siver coated in silver sulphide, whereas what you want on the copper is an oxide. I'd stick with the bronze patination gunk that sculptors use.
Not as visually arresting as using a giant egg, though!

 

[thiambal]

The eggy thing gets the siver coated in silver sulphide, whereas what you want on the copper is an oxide. I'd stick with the bronze patination gunk that sculptors use.
Not as visually arresting as using a giant egg, though!

My head is suitably hung in shame as my science teacher turned gently in his grave.

 

[andrew gayton]

a dilute household bleach would do the trick.

 

[Craig]

I imagine that since the first message was posted, the copper will have dulled already! Ah, the benefit of free discourse...