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Patina Issue....

Hello there,

I'm presently having a problem getting a that 'rich copper' color from my solder. I'm using the "Classique" brand Copper Patina (stuff is blue in the bottle). Anyway, the solder seems to be turning out a bit 'Pinker' than that nice glossy Copper Patina I often see in other's works. Is there some special prep that needs to be done to the copper 'first' before I use the Patina ? I've been shakin' the hell outta the bottle and using some steel wool on the solder (60/40)

On a side note, I saw a few pieces that were made by this 'much older' German fella and his stuff looked like it was wrapped in 'Chromel". His small pieces had a super amazing finsh .... He said that he used 'calcium' or something....and added that "it makes all the difference in the world". I couldn't stay long enough for him to explain it to me, but thought I would ask here instead. Does anyone know what that means... "To use Calcium" when finishing a piece ?

Cheers,

/MM

Reply to
Jman
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2 biggest issues are....
  1. using fresh chemical, since it loses effectiveness and has a shelf life once it's mixed. You never know how long it's been sitting around when you buy it on the internet.
  2. Piece must be incredibly sparkling clean and dry. That means no detergent, soap, or residue of any kind. Even rubbing it with a cloth may affect it. When done, you must use a polish to make it look like a shiny penny.
Reply to
glassman

Hmmmm,

Ok, so the patina in question is from a local vendor but it could have been on the shelf for awhile.... I couldn't be sure. I'll look for a fresh one to eliminate that possiblility.

So once I've finished the piece, I should 'then' polish it before the patina ? What kind of polish would you suggest ? Would a car polish be OK or is there something specific that works better ? When using a polish, is it best to use a special kind of cloth also ?

Cheers,

/MM

Reply to
Jman

Polishing is done after the patina is applied and washed off with soapy water and dried. I use something called NEV-R-DULL. It's a cotton wadding with polish. You apply, let dry to a haze, then buff with a soft cloth. Yes copper patina is a pain. I almost always use the black.

Reply to
glassman

Reply to
michele

Thanks for the Tips !

I'll give it a go.....

/MM

Reply to
Jman

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