Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Recreating French Bronze

July 11, 2008

Hi,
Have old spelter pair of statues that I need to recreate the two tones of faux bronze on.

<-- This is what I'm trying to accomplish.

Having difficulty with the dark brown patina. Have tried various metallic paints, Ruperts pearl pigments and acrylic paint combos, rub n buff, but cannot get the rich chocolate finish. Any suggestions?

MiMi Stewart
product designer - Vancouver, Canada

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July 11, 2008

Hi, Mimi. I'm just an industrial metal finisher, not an artist, so I can't speak from experience; but www.sculpt.com/catalog_98/patina/ColoredWax.htm has brown and black waxes that you perhaps could apply on top of the metallic coating that you have applied.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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If spelter= cast zinc try immersion copper and then correct with dyed lacquer.Immersion copper for Zinc: 30 gm copper sulphate;50 gm tartaric acid [on eBay or Amazon];50 mll ammonia + 1lit water.Can be used only on grease and oxide free objects!
Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
July 14, 2008

I use wood finish in thin coats until I get the desired color. Thompsons does just fine. Try it on some copper flashing and see if it will work for you.

Marc Banks
Blacksmith - Melbourne, Florida
July 29, 2008