How to do verdigris finish on copper

A. Dear Ellen,

Maybe the application of a urine patina might work as some kind of visual artistry. Try the literature section, there are some good books on the subject. Believe it or not, but the acids in your urine will color copper! It seems like the more green-friendly, all natural way to go, don't you think?

A. Ellen--

Ammonia works, too. You'll end up with a bright blue rather than turquoise or green, if that's what you're looking for.

A. copper nitrate [affil link] combined with salt sprayed on copper will give you a verdigris patina. You must leave it undisturbed after several applications. It is delicate but the longer you wait the tougher it will get. A couple of weeks should give you something you can handle. You have to get the nitrate from a chemical supply Co.

A. 250 gm ammonium carbonate + 250 gm ammonium chloride/1 lit water!

Q. I have the same question: How to turn copper immediately to the verdigris patina

rosie koverman
- gilbert,South Carolina usa

A. Hello Barry, Rosie. We appended your question to one of several threads on this general topic, If you don't see enough info here, search the site for green patina and you will see many suggestions, formulas, and comments.

Too answer the need for "instant" patina, a commercial product for that purpose is .

Hi Virlouvet. If you really just want paint, I'm confident that Rustoleum and Krylon and the other companies who offer paint for outdoor metal will have a color faitly close to verdigris.

But another approach is to "paint" on some copper metal surfacer, which will leave the surface full of tiny grains of copper.
and then apply the instant patina discussed immediately above to turn the copper to verdigris. Good luck.

Regards,