hi,
i read recently about copper finishes,and like suggestion by ponytl with use of different acids,,,i have heard of using ammonia to get blue color,,but would like to know which acids he uses for other colors mentioned in article,,eg the greens and yellows….thanks……
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This is NOT a simple subject. No simple recipe will suffice because application technique and dilutions and temperature and weather are all important factors ... just to name a few. You can get more detailed info by checking the library (or the internet) for topics like metal coloring and patination of copper. Magazines like "Metalsmith" will have ads for patina solutions and metalsmithing and jewelry making books often have info on coloring copper and various patina recipes and techniques. Browns, greens, blues are all common copper tints. Gold (yellow) and reds are rarer and more difficult to get and to keep. The deep purples are mainly acheived with heat patination not solutions (and they are not durable). You can experiment with various salts and household chemicals (like ammonia, bleach, vinegar, water). Tim McCreight's book "The Complete Metalsmith" is an inexpensive reference to begin with (and has tons of other interesting info).
Here is an interesting link: http://www.diynet.com/diy/ww_tables/article/0,2049,DIY_14446_2274715,00.html
David Marks, the show host and creator of the design and method, does some great looking furniture pieces using copper, which he finishes using a patina method.
His method uses chemicals on the cleaned new copper work, with the chemicals mixed with sawdust, then applied to the surfaces, wrapped in cheesecloth, then sealed up with plastic wrapping, then allowed to work for three weeks or more before unwrapping and proceeding.
Surf through his stuff and I believe you will come across the recipe.
The pic of his table creation, below, shows the kind of finish to which I refer.
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Edited 5/10/2004 3:57 pm ET by Bob Dylan
Pick up the book titled, The Colouring, Bronzing and Patinization of Metals It will give you all the recipes and different coloring of metals. Copper, Brass, silver etc.