Aging copper?

[cayman shen]

I was wondering

A. Is there a simple, "grocery store" method to age copper?

B. If not, what's a good, cheap chemical to create a brown patina?

I have a Freddy glove I'm making, and it looks like a new penny...if I can't age it, I'll have to pretend to be on Freddy's first, brand new kill!

 

[SWFreak]

Here's some info

 

[cayman shen]

Thanks--looks like Liver of Sulpher is my best bet. I'm seeing that it can be done hot or cold, but I'm having trouble finding a cold method. Anyone done this?

 

[HellGhost]

Try Vinegar...

 

[cayman shen]

I was wondering about that. Plain vinegar?

 

[Jedirick]

Yep. Plain vinegar will do it or you can get the distilled (clear) vinegar. The distilled stuff is twice as strong.

 

[Noeland]

Somebody read my mind, I'm about to start work on a new steampunk blaster constructed mainly of copper. Thanks guys!

 

[cayman shen]

I read one place that suggested peeing on it. That sounds like something Freddy might do...

 

[cayman shen]

Soaking a scrap in Windex did some nifty things to it...

 

[SmilingOtter]

I've had success wetting the copper, applying salt to it, and putting it around ammonia fumes. (I put the copper and a shallow bowl of ammonia under a cake holder top.)

Turns the copper a nice brown, and parts of it turn blue. The blue will come off with wiping, or you can repeat to make it more permament.

 

[eltee]

For a copper and brass diving helmet, I just left it out in the coastal fog for a couple days:

BTW...I, too, was told that one method to age the metal was uric acid (peeing on it).

 

[cayman shen]

Wow, that came out well! Still, I kinda want to pee on a scrap

For a copper and brass diving helmet, I just left it out in the coastal fog for a couple days:

BTW...I, too, was told that one method to age the metal was uric acid (peeing on it).

 

[Vaderman]

Don't forget to try hydrogen peroxide!

 

[wamser_e]

Never underestimate the power of Pacifica fog! Combine that with the salt spray from the ocean and unprotected metal will corrode within days if left out there.

Ed

For a copper and brass diving helmet, I just left it out in the coastal fog for a couple days:

BTW...I, too, was told that one method to age the metal was uric acid (peeing on it).

 

[weaselflinger]

In college we were lucky enough to have a bronze foundry as part of the sculpture studio. It was not unusual to have someone approach you and ask if you could pee on their bronze sculpture....good times

 

[saxe coburg]

I agree with peeing on it... no joke.

 

[defstartrooper]

Wouldn't vinegar just have the same effect as urine ? i'm assuming its a reaction to acid that causes the tarnishing.

I suppose it's just down to what smell you prefer :lol

 

[cayman shen]

Yeah, but I don't have to pay for pee!

(not that vinegar is pricey...)