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Is there a chemical or substance that will give new copper that wonderful green patina[verdigris] quickly?
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Check the archives. There was long discussion about this about 2-3 months ago. If you can find, let me know, and I'll E Mail some of the information.
*The industry verdigris process uses dip vats of hot acid -- not a DIY project. Go to for an example of a kit that will paint on a finish. Alternatively, you can Ask Martha at .
*rgl we use a cut mix of acid and water sprayed on the copper with a small hand sprayer. The copper is for handrails and we treat them before installing them as soon as possible. It takes roughtly a week of weather to start getting that "green" look. We've had the best luck with using 1 part acid to three parts water.
*I thought you could just use a solution for muratic (sp?) acid and water for this. Can someone verify this? Muratic acid is a common material available at most any hardware store.
*I don't know about the acid, but I have seen a mix of vinegar and water in a spray bottle used to achieve this effect.....might be worth a shot!! Donna
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One other piece of advice... Before you treat it with anything, clean it so it is uniformly and spotlessly clean with a good copper cleaner or you will end up with a blotchy, ugly mess!
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Try a 50/50 mix of vinegar and household ammonia. Spray it on and cover with poly overnite. Treatment may be repeated. Copper needs to be clean and grease free. Wash with TSP first.
*An old timer told me once he peed(sp?) on a copper lantern to turn it green for a client. Could you imagine if they had seen that maneuver!! It's the truth. I think it was the urea acid, but it's a good story! Don't get caught.
*Like that one JohnOf course make sure the power isn't onShocking
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Clint,
This was done (by the painters) to the copper fascia on a house I worked on in 1986. They used liquid soldering flux and applied it with a spray bottle. Mask, goggles and protective clothing are a must. The effect takes place quickly, like in a day or two. I have since seen books on the subject that have recipes for different effects and colors on different metals. On one range hood, the person putting the patina on used a torch and acid to create accents. This was followed by waxing. Hold your breath and keep your eyes closed - or wear the gear.
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Here is a recipie I used to give my students,4oz Copper Nitrate 4oz Ammonium chloride 4oz Calcium chloride 1 gal water If you can dip the peice if not brush on being careful ot do it very evenly
if you need more info email me.
*Picasso had his children pee on his bronze work. L. Siders This would be a lot safer!
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I once inspected a house that had a copper portico. The contractor had a bucket of some liquid which he said would age the copper to that nice verdigris colour. I of course asked him what it was....he replied "pregnant mares urine". I drove by the house a month later and sure enough the copper had aged beautifully.
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I guess the trick is how to get the horse on/off the roof, since Picasso's kids probably wouldn't lend their efforts.
I happened to have taken a patina workshop a couple weekends ago, which is where I got the vinegar & ammonia recipe. It can be enhanced with a little table salt. It's cheap, works well, and doesn't smell like a Port Authority men's room while it's working.
Clint Searl
*Safety tip regarding Bill Curry's suggestion (1 part acid to three parts water): NEVER add water to acid. ALWAYS add acid to water (so the released heat of solution is absorbed in the water). I saw a woman carrying a beaker of 18 molar sulfuric get a splash of water in the acid. The thermal shock waves broke the breaker and then she had broken glass and very concentrated acid in her newly lacerated palm. What a painful scream she let out!Donna: vinegar is acid (acetic) just one of the more edible ones.I've seen copper pipe handrails that were buried in a smoldering campfire on a bed of horse manure. Gave it an irregular, mottled brown patina. I suspect the most active chemical is the ammonia but other compounds may be functioning as stains. Wash it off and wax or varnish. -David
*I thought ammonia and vinegar would neutralize each other to some extent. I've used vinegar to help neutralize the effects of ammonia vapor from blueprint machine spills. Breathing thru a paper towel soaked in vinegar allowed one to breathe some of the strong ammonia fumes, not that I'm recommending it.
*Try Sur- Fin Chemcial (800) 282-3533. They have about a dozen different chemicals that instantly put a green, brown, or orange patina on the copper.
*I can verify John Landi's method of turning copper into verdigris in a hurry. A gentleman whom I bought a handcast sundial from told me that he has been doing it for forty years. He buried the object(not too big) in the garden(not too deep) and peed(sp?) on it. He would then have aged copper, bronze, brass in about a week.
*http://www.ssschemical.com/ These people have something to turn almost anything any color, they are in Los Angeles CA. Joe H
*Heat the copper with a torch (like a weed burner). Then spray with salt water to obtain a dark background to the ultimate patina. Heat again. Then spray with a copper nitate solution. It takes practice but will give the instant aged look.Dave
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Is there a chemical or substance that will give new copper that wonderful green patina[verdigris] quickly?