I am so frustrated that after 30+ years of working with stained glass I'm having thoughts of quitting!! I moved to chattanooga TN and ever since have been having problems keeping my copper foil lead lines free of corrosion. The white stuff appears eventually no mater what I use to clean before patina, or put on after. Is this a problem of humidity (never happened when I lived in Nevada) or what? Suggestions needed..please.
The white stuff
HI!
my first, long Reply disappears?
this is not very bad at first. mop it away with a Q-tip and Water. and than oil the seems with hairoil or so.
I think you use a new (Flux) soldering fluid or too much (too concentrated) of it. The salt in it blooming out of the stain.
Show your customer this process and the objects can become very old with it.
Greetings Karl
Wash with Dawn detergent or Lysol Basin, Tub & Tile cleaner in the spray bottle. Rinse thoroughly and dry thoroughly. Getting all the flux and patina off is most important. After the project is completely dry, the wax with Clarity's Kem Pro glass wax. In high humidity areas you might have to rewax and polish every once in a while. You also might try using distilled water for the clean up part.
if you're using the same products, could it be the different water? did you try using distilled water?
regards, charlie cave creek, az
What brand solder are you using? Have you tried scrubbing with steel wool or a patina buddy (after you have washed it of course) before putting the patina on?
Jacqui
It's most likely humidity. I believe it allows the flux that was hiding in the gaps to rehumidify and re-emerge and then crystallize. i'm on the coast so have been dealing with this many many moons. m
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