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Failed copper patina on stained glass

Hi all

I'm having dificulty with getting a decent copper patina on the solder joints on Tiffany-style stained glass items.

After soldering, I give the soldered seams a good clean with detergent supplied by my friendly local stained glass shop.

Then I dry the item, and apply copper patina solution with a 'non-stick' scourer.

Some of the seams work out well - others end up a dull grey colour.

Any idea what I'm, doing wrong ??

Thanks Adrian Suffolk UK

Reply to
Adrian
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Tiffany style is usually referring to copper foil. It sounds like you are using lead came??? anyway, try a) 000 brass wool after drying, wipe lightly then brush the patina on with a soft brush. b) hit the solder with Windex immediately after soldering (do not wash) Leave flux there, just Windex, wipe with paper towel, apply patina. Wash wash wash with dawn or other degreaser. it gets really bright copper after polishing. m

Reply to
Michele Blank

HI Michele

Thanks for the comments. No - I'm using copper foil, but after foiling the glass pieces are soldered together and a solder bead is added where the pieces join.

The idea is to patinate the solder back to copper.

I don't know Windex - what is that ? (I'm based in the UK - maybe it's a product that's not available over here..?)

Thanks Adrian Suffolk UK

Reply to
Adrian

it's an ammonia based window/glass cleaning product. comes in a bottle with a sprayer, liquid is blue. i'm sure you have an equivalent?? m

Reply to
Michele Blank

2 possibilities. You need fresh chemicals and/or the detergent you are using is leaving a film, thus sabotaging your efforts. Here's what I do with good results. Use mild water soluable flux. Rinse off with hot plain soapy water ONLY. Let air dry, (cloth will also leave a film), then apply patina liberally with a brush. Rinse off again and let dry. Then apply polish.
Reply to
jk

Hi JK

Thanks for that. The chemicals are 3 years old - so that may be the problem. Going shopping today to our nearest town with a stained-glass supplies shop - so we'll see if new chemicals solves the problem....

I did try again last night - but the areas on the piece that refused to take the patina _still_ refuse the patina - after re-washing and abrading. When using a q-tip tp apply the patina the q-tip goes black

- odd!

Thanks for the reply - we'll try with fresh chemicals

Regards Adrian Sufolk UK

Reply to
Adrian

HI All

Thanks for the advice, everybody.

Had a try with the original patina, but using 000 wire-wool to prepare the surface before patination - and it's worked perfectly!

Success - many thanks

Adrian Suffolk UK

Reply to
Adrian

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