Seeking a reference on patinas for steel

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I do metal sculptures using mild steel, plasma cutting, mig welding, etc. I want to find a reference that will tell me the color I can get on the surface with various chemical treatments. For instance, I can get a bright orange with salt water sprayed on and left overnight, then "stabilized" with a clear coat of acrylic paint. Or, I can get a dark red color with dilute Muriatic Acid [link is to product info at Amazon] over night.

But I feel like I'm re-inventing the wheel with these "experiments". Does anyone know of a book that has this info? or someone to talk with about it?

Gary Ferguson
artist, sculptor - Taos, NM

First of two simultaneous responses -- +++++++

I'd suggest "Contemporary Patination" by Ron Young, or Colouring, Bronzing & Patination of Metals [link is to product info at Amazon] by Hughes/Rowe.

Dave Wichern
- The Bronx, New York

Second of two simultaneous responses -- +++++++

Metal Colouring by Fishlock is very good book on that subject.Book by Angier-Firearm Blueing and Browning is very good too( iron and steel patinas only).There are many other older books (Buchner,Hiorns,Krause,Beutel are best).Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Zagreb, Croatia

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www.thelitterbox.org website is very good source of download free informations on that subject(7 old techno-chemical recipe books,Scientific American Cyclopaedia of formulas best).Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Zagreb, Croatia