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Change the color of solder to a copper color
Q. Years ago I worked at a Architectural metal fabrication company, which we mainly dealt with Fabricated Copper sheet products. I used to use a chemical to change the color of a soldered or silver soldered joint to a "Copper colored finish". A friend of mine just asked me what that "Blue crystal chemical" was and where he could buy some? Well, I do not remember, so can you help? I used to dip a clean acid brush in water and then dab some of this "Blue Crystal Chemical" on the wet acid brush, and then I would brush over the silver soldered or soldered area and the solder color would change to a "Copper" color when it dried. Please help to refresh my memory.
Thank you,
- Mesa, Arizona, U.S.A.
2002
Sounds like copper sulphate, Ron? Good luck with it.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2002
Q. There must be more to this technique. I bought the blue crystal copper sulphate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and used a brush to apply it to the solder, but there was no reaction. What steps am I missing? Should I crush the crystals into powder first? Thanks, Tara
Tara W [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]- Dry Prong, Louisiana
2006
A. I don't know of any chemical that changes silver to copper BUT there is a way that we do "copper plating" and it does work and that's steel wool [affil link on Amazon] and what the jewelry industry calls pickle acid -- turns anything copper really and it's cheap. Also use to be and I am having a hard time finding copper colored solder that would stay copper even after you heated it and soldered the project. When I first used it though I found it very hard to melt and it didn't hold up like I thought it should. Pickle acid is sold anyplace that sells jewelry equipment and is most of the time in powder form and you just mix it with hot water according to the amount needed. Steel bailing wire & steel wool [affil link on Amazon] are cheap and work well, and afterwards use a spray fix or clear gloss to keep it from chipping off at any time because it's not really a heavy coat that will last to things like patinas it with liver of sulfur ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or any ammonia ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil links] very well.
Evan [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]- Colorado
2007
A. It is copper patina available at any stained glass supply store. It is sold under different names and makers, but it's all copper patina. It is a blue crystal-like solution, and is very inexpensive.
Kerri [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]- Hickory, North Carolina, USA
March 29, 2011
A. To color silver solder a copper color try "Copper B Metal Coating" made by Sculpt Nouveau. They also make a "Copper C Metal Coating" which is applied a bit differently. Check their website for more detailed instructions.
Keith DrosteCute As A Bug's Ear Custom Jewelry - Anaheim, California USA
March 3, 2015
A. The copper sulphate mixed with a little water can be applied to most solders to turn a solder copper color. When the mixture is still wet you touch the area with a bit of iron or steel and the solder will be covered with a coating of metallic copper. You can use this process several times until the desired color is obtained.
Roy
50 years Sheet Metal Worker - Cerritos, California, USA
January 14, 2018
A. The "Blue Crystal Chemical" is likely copper acetate [affil links]. It can be made at home with some simple ingredients.
You'll need white vinegar
⇦in bulk on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil links] and 3% hydrogen peroxide in equal amounts in the glass jar. Do not fill more then 3/4 full. Heat the mixture to approximately 100 °F (about 30 seconds in the microwave should do). Then take a piece of your copper scrub pad, submerge it in the mixture and stir with a plastic spoon. It'll start turning blue. Remove the copper when it gets to a medium blue.
You can then use this mixture to electroplate nearly anything that's conductive.
- Ventura, California, usa
March 7, 2020
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