Metal finishing Q&As since 1989
-----
Antique green patina recipe for brass?
Please search the site with 'patina' plus other words of your choice for dozens of patina topics.
2002Q. I am trying to get an antique green color patina on brass using a recipe that simply calls for
1 gallon water
8 oz. nickel ammonium sulphate [affil link to product info on Amazon]
8 oz. sodium thiosulphate [on
eBay or
Amazon]
"simmered" at 160 degrees until desired color is obtained. I used a hotplate, a pyrex container, and a thermometer; everything seems in order.
I got an icky brownish-black patina. I started with cleaned (sanded and pumiced) brass. Any thoughts or better recipe suggestions?
Thanks,
Amy L [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]jewelry - Brooklyn, New York
Q. I'd like to know how to do this, too!
Kerry F [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Fort Knox, Kentucky
2002
A. I just found a patina but have not tried it out. I think it should work since I know ammonia [on eBay or Amazon] was a main ingredient of a green patina used in my high school metals class.
2 parts white vinegar
[in bulk on
eBay or
Amazon]
1.5 parts non-detergent ammonia
.5 parts non-iodized salt
Good luck!
Becky K [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Vonore, Tennessee
2003
Q. Sir,
I need a technique to make polished Brass to Old Green Brass finish. And also any method to make finish to last?
Gurmeet S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]hardware and metal exports - Noida, UP, India
2004
Q. Hi-
Has anyone gotten the green result?
if so... was it the technique w/the ammonia...or another way?
- Iowa City, Iowa
2005
A. For a green patina on brass or bronze use a mixture of copper nitrate [affil links] (1 teaspoon to 8 oz of distilled water). Heat up the brass with a torch until water just boils off of it and spray or dab on the mixture with a natural bristle brush.
Dan R [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Los Angeles, California
2005
A. I tried Cat Litter (non clumping) [affil links] and white vinegar, enough to wet the litter through ... this was with copper and it turned a beautiful greenish blue.
Eva Hill- Franklin, Tennessee
2007
Modern Masters Green Patina
from
eBay
or
Amazon
(affil links)
A. You can get a pretty good green-blue on brass or copper with: copper sulphate, ammonium chloride (or plain clear liquid ammonia) and distilled water. Adjusting the amount of copper sulphate [on
eBay or
Amazon]will adjust the amount of blue you get.
Am. Chlor. will impart a yellow green, while ammonia will give more of a blue.
- Sanford, Michigan
April 25, 2008
September 20, 2015
A. Here's what I did.
1. Give brass an ammonia bath, let dry.
2. Give brass a heavy salt water bath, let dry.
3. Heat oven to 350 °F. Line a pan with non stick foil. Dab on some Nair [affil link to product info on Amazon]. That's right - the hair removal stuff.
4. Bake letters until dry.
5. Repeat process above if not enough green for your taste.
My mailbox letters are now an aged, green color.
- Grapevine, Texas, USA
Hi D. Thanks! ... but to clarify, people should use an old toaster oven in the garage to try stuff like this. Putting materials of this nature into your food oven is a very bad idea.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September 2015
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread