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Getting copper pipe to turn green
I am making a deck railing of cedar and 1/2" copper pipe. I would like the pipe to turn green without waiting 20 years. Any suggestions on what I could brush on the pipe to get it to turn green?
Patrick Q [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Juneau, Alaska
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Hello Patrick, Here's a patina formula I found online that will give copper that bluish-green antique look you desire: Take 8 ounces of salt and 8 ounces of ammonium chloride and mix them with a quart of vinegar. Mix in a half ounce of ammonia when you are ready to put it on the copper. Spread it on with a soft brush and let it sit for 24 hours. If you want it darker, repeat the formula and let it sit another 24 hours. When it's done and has sat for a full day, wash it down and protect it with wax or lacquer. Good luck,
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In the summertime, spray it with a spritz bottle with a mixture of salt, vinegar and water every morning and night. Green in about 2 weeks. When you get the green you like, rinse it with a hot water spray twice a day for a week. Then polish it with felt or canvas and wax it.
James Watts- Navarre, Florida
To turn copper green spray with 1/2 strength muriatic acid [linked by editor to product info at Amazon]. Sprinkle with kosher salt. Place in sun. With in 24 hours it will look like 100 years old.
Thomas A [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- MC FARLAND, Wisconsin
I am trying to age the copper on the overhangs of my house by turning them from what now looks like a dirty copper color to and age green color. I have seen several suggestions for doing so: muriatic acid, ammonium chloride and vinegar, and something called patina. Can I get some advice on what would work best?
Bryan H [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]home maintenance - Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Bryan H of Mount Laurel, NJ asked a question regarding the best way to turn his copper house overhangs to an aged green color. There was no response to his question. I am also looking for the best solution to this problem. Is there an appropriate answer?
Esta S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Los Angeles, California
Hello Esta. It's a public forum and anyone is welcome to respond. The question had already been answered with three different solutions. The exact response that Bryan requested (i.e., for someone to point out which two of these suggestions are inferior to the third) can't be proven anyway, so why insult two of the three good Samaritans who answered the question :-)
But we can list some advantages/disadvantages by saying that muriatic acid is dangerous stuff that must be treated with great respect, so it has that downside. And commercial patinas have the advantage that they are formulated for that exact purpose, so they ought to be "best" in functionality, but they are probably quite expensive compared to household chemicals. Good luck.
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
Thanks Ted, I did see and appreciate the helpful answers of the "Samaritans" who did respond. But like Bruce H of Laurel, N.J., I was hoping to hear from someone who had tried at least a couple and found one better than the others. Guess, I'll have to try them all myself!
Esta S [returning]
- Los Angeles, California
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Ed. note:
After you do, please come back and return the favor, Esta.
May sound crazy, but I used miracle grow diluted w/ water on my copper bays and it worked. It's much safer, easier and better for the environment than muriatic acid.
Steph West- Boston, Massachusetts
-- this entry appended to this thread by editor in lieu of spawning a duplicative thread
I have a large copper job to do and I know there is a chemical reaction that will make the copper green without having to wait for the elements.
Teresa C [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]fabrication student - Powder Springs, Georgia
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THE VINEGAR, WATER SALT, SOLUTION WORKS SUPER. I JUST TRIED IT ON 3 RAIN CHAINS I HAVE (IF YOU WANT THE BRIGHT SHINY COPPER LOOK AGAIN) BUT I DID USE APPLE VINEGAR HE DIDN'T DISCERN WHICH TYPE TO USE OR NOT USE I WAS LOOKING FOR THE GREEN TOO. DON'T USE THAT VINEGAR, I KNOW KETCHUP WILL SHINE UP COPPER TOO.
GREG S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- N.S.L., Utah
March 15, 2010
To achieve the antique green finish we love from ancient buildings, my ex. told me the workmen would urinate on it, and apparently it worked a charm.
I am not prepared to do this on my vertical copper siding cladding two bay windows.
The several suggestions you have posted are all so different. Wish someone could recommend a sure-fire step-by-step procedure I could depend on.
Thanks, winona
- Toronto, Ontario
March , 2010
Hi, Winona. People have related their success stories with salt+ammonium chloride+vinegar, and salt+vinegar, and muriatic acid+kosher salt, and MiracleGrow. If you search the site you'll find dozens more threads on patinating copper, with still more approaches like ammonia. It's a public forum and short of strangling people to shut them up, there is no way to say which approach is "best" or "surefire". The ease of different approaches will vary, the speed will vary, the safety will vary, the exact color will vary, the smoothness will vary, the pattern will vary with some people preferring perfect uniformity and others wanting variegation. the durability will vary -- and it will remain forever a matter of opinion whether these approaches, commercial patina solutions, or urination is "best"" :-)
Are you positive that this is real copper, not copper colored aluminum? Sure-fire is impossible unless you can tell us exactly what copper alloy was used on your windows, what heat treatment sequence was performed, what mechanical preparation and sanding/buffing the manufacturer used, what type and brand of brass lacquer, epoxy, polyurethane or other clear coat they applied, and a dozen other questions you won't be able to answer.
The closest we can come to step-by-step is to say that you must first remove whatever clearcoat is protecting the copper. Try lacquer thinner [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] first. If that doesn't work, you will have to use aircraft stripper [linked by editor to product info at Amazon], which is terribly toxic and noxious stuff requiring goggles [linked by editor to product info at Amazon], protective gloves [linked by editor to product info at Amazon], and outstanding ventilation. After you have bare copper, please pick any of the alternate approaches to urine, whichever sounds most authoritative or promising to you, and it will probably work fine. Best of luck.
Regards,
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
April 10, 2010
You are right. Cannot answer all these questions. I do however know this is REAL copper. Saw it being installed, and know from the bank I needed to rob to pay for it, that it is the real thing.I am still pondering these various options. Muriatic acid is not on my list...too toxic, but all the others will be tried and I will keep you posted. winona
Winona Gallop- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| September 12, 2010
I'm trying to patina some copper and am not having very much luck - I even tried urine! It produced a peacock blue color but it washed away. I've read in two places that Miracle Grow works but was curious if Miracid would work better? Isn't acid the thing you need to do the job? thanks! good column! candy walter- chapel hill North Carolina November 2, 2010 Miracle-Gro for African Violets in a liquid form is GREAT! I brushed (like I was painting) on the copper and it turned a lovely green the sunny day after I finished the job! - Marietta, Georgia |
June 2, 2011
I am an artist and use small bits of copper sheet and wire. I don't have a standard recipe but have found that hot sauce works well. I had several bottles of old Tabasco in the kitchen and that seems to work well. Experiment. Have fun!
Benny Church- Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
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October 23, 2011
Miracle-Gro African Violet Liquid Food => - Union, New Jersey, USA October 24, 2011 Thanks, Paul, that's very interesting! Can you provide a reference? Regards,
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