Letter 15155

Create patina on pewter

++ I am a collector of antique beer steins. Most steins have pewter lids and thumblifts. Occasionally, I'll find an antique where someone has cleaned the natural patina from the pewter. Antique stein collectors prefer the age-showing dull look. A shiny lid just doesn't look right on an old antique. Is there a simple method for a hobbyist to get natural patina back onto pewter (without waiting another 100 years)? I've seen some other posts here and a book was recommended. If a book has this solution, I wouldn't mind purchasing it. Can anyone direct me further? Thanks, Jody Wyse - Inman, South Carolina ++ The book you've seen recommended here is for patination of copper and brass, not pewter. But check out letter 12714. Although it's about silver, not pewter, I'd conjecture that the sulphide from eggs will tarnish pewter too. Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey ++ You can use this solution for black colouring of tin and pewter: 200 gm. iron chloride ,water 1 lit. The article is immersed in solution! Goran Budija - Zagreb, Croatia +++ Instead solution from my first letter(which is simple and ingredient is easy available) you can try one of these two recipes: BLACK FOR TIN molibdenic acid........7,5 gm ammonium chloride.....30 gm H2O..........1 lit. Hot immersion(60-80 C) black for tin 2 bismuth nitrate........5 gm nitric acid..........50 ccm tartaric acid.........80 gm Goran Budija - Zagreb, Croatia

I read the recent posts on creating a black patina on Pewter with interest. I am looking to create other colors as can be done on copper with livers of sulphur and other chemicals. Does anyone have experience with other patination processes on Pewter?

I am a wood turner who is beginning to incorporate metals in my turnings. So far I have been using leaf; both copper and silver and patinizing them with quite nice results. I am hoping to get a dark and lustrous effect with some coloration using pewter.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Bradford Chaucer
wood turner, metal worker artisan - Sneads Ferry, NC, United States

Hi, Bradford. I'm not sure that there are colorful patinas for pewter. That is, there may be no reagents that will turn the metals in pewter red or green or blue. I believe that what is often done instead is the article is "painted" with a copper-based patinating solution.

Regards,

Ted Mooney finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

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