No registration or passwords; no pop-up ads -- just aloha, fun, & highly authoritative answers.
(as an eBay Partner & Amazon Affiliate we receive compensation for qualifying purchases).
Home /
T.O.C.
FAQs
 
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Advertise
Here
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Search 🔍
the Site
pub  Where the world gathers for
plating, anodizing, & finishing Q&As since 1989





-----

Preserving heat coloring of copper when clear coating


A. I put a clear coat on my torch painted copper today and it works!
It was on my shelf in my craft room. I think I purchased it at a store that sells silver, chains, findings and tools years ago. Can't believe I had something since torch colored fish and hummingbirds turned dark with powder coating.
The name of the product is ProtectaClear by Everbrite, Inc.
Website is www.everbritecoatings.com/ProtectaClear.htm
Phone # 916-852-0200

Hope this helps someone. I spent lots of time reading this site, learned a lot but had my own answer! Lol

Kim Bates
- Sun City Arizona
December 14, 2020


A. Hi Kim, I've been using the Protectaclear from Everbrite [a finishing.com supporting advertiser] for a number of years now. It works very well. I apply two or three coats. I use an artist's paintbrush to apply it and then dry the pieces in a dehydrator. You will notice that some of the colors will change when you apply the coating which is normal as the coating blocks out the UV rays of light. The reds and yellows will become more vibrant and other colors will turn a warm brown, etc.

Connie Tyler
- Crossville, Tennessee
June 21, 2023



sidebar

A. Thanks, Kim and Connie! We don't normally post brand suggestions or sourcing or we'd drown under spam, but Everbrite is a supporting advertiser of this site, so we're certainly delighted to offer your postings as an infomercial :-)

Luck & Regards,

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




⇩ Closely related postings, oldest first ⇩



I have tried all forms of heat (oxyacetylene, electric oven and home stove top gas) to produce the effect seen on this butterfly refrigerator ornament, but cannot duplicate the vivid colors.

flame colored copper
Courtesy of Mel Owen

Since I have 2 of these I assume it can be duplicated. Is another ingredient (oil?) added or is it a matter of a consistent temperature?

Mel Owen
- Texas
1999


"amazon Video: Basic Copper Smithing and Flame Painting on Copper"
from Amazon

(affil links)

A. The coloring produced on the butterfly can be done with heat. You don't have to slather your work in harmful chemicals to get some great coloring. You have to experiment like never before and work with the heat from any torch and "paint" the copper with the flame. You can try working with oils as well. I once was annealing some brass in a kiln and I took it out too soon for annealing but the oil from the factory must have still been on it because it produced some amazing colors and patterns.(The pieces of metal were framed and hung in 'Out of Hand Gallery' in Lunenburgh, Nova Scotia!) Grease may be easier to work with than oil. You have to play a lot with the torch because it is easy to heat the metal too much and the colour will go to a yucky brown. Also try working with folding the piece and annealing it. When you open the work you get some interesting colour patterns due to the amount of oxygen that gets to the metal in the folds.

The trick is to play! Have fun and ALWAYS WEAR PROPER SAFETY GEAR! PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR ENVIRONMENT!

M.Jardine
- farmington, nova Scotia, Canada
2000




All clear coatings seem to remove the flame colors

Q. I HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING THE COPPER TO CHANGE TO ALMOST ANY COLOR. This is the copper after heating it.

flame colored copper 1 flame colored copper 2

My problem is losing all the blue, red, and purple colors, When I apply any product to keep the copper from tarnishing. The other photo is after the product is applied.

I have applied a large variety of products and none have worked to my satisfaction. I will be very pleased for any advice you can offer.

SONNY GRAHAM
- OZONA, FLORIDA
2002



Q. Yes, I have the same situation as Sonny. I have tried spraying the heat-colored copper with clear Krylon or lacquer, but it seems to oxidize beneath the surface of the clear sealer (about 6 months later). How can I preserve the heat-produced colors without having oxidation? I also often have a roughened, sanded surface, so I'm not sure if wax would be an option.

John Waters
- Phoenix, Arizona
2003


A. Unfortunately, I don't have good news for you, Sonny and John :-(

Some portion of the nice coloration is from diffraction patterns like the rainbow sheen of a drop of oil on water, rather than from pigmenting. The oil isn't really rainbow tinted, it's the way the very thin layer prisms the light. As soon as you put a clear coat on your piece, it's like trying to lay a sheet of glass over that oil rainbow to preserve it. The colors that are "really there" as pigments will be retained, but the diffraction colors disappear.

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



flame colored copper 3

A. Try using OIL-based polyurethane instead of lacquer. Or another oil-based product.
The problem with water based products and many of the lacquers which are acidic is their reach with the copper creating another patina, not necessarily the one you want.
I have not tried this with colors like yours, but I've used it on both bare brushed copper and sulfurated potash patina copper (mostly dark colors) and it preserves most of the color.

I have a copper dining set I made about 7 years ago and it's still pretty much same color (that picture is when it's about 4 years old).

I just experimented with several brands and price does not seem to make a difference. Cheapest worked same. Polyurethane also has the advantage of being flexible, unlike lacquer, which will have hairline cracks after a while for temperature expansion and shrinking of the copper and will lose its protection.

I've tested it by bending a coated piece back and forth and them leaving it in salt water for a month with no visible tarnish while the lacquer piece turned black.

Alik Perakh
- San Diego, California
2003



Q. I am a hobbyist making copper wind chimes. I am burning the copper chimes with a propane torch to bring out the different colors in the tubing. When I put a finish on the pipe, the colors fade and and some colors, like purple, disappear completely turning to orange. I've used lacquer, Rustoleum products, shellac and a variety of water based (acrylics) clear finishes used for hobbies and purchased at hobby stores all with the same results. Does anyone know of any kind of finish either brush on or spray that will not change the oxidation of the pipe.

Tony Wright
hobbyist - Huntington Beach, California
2004



Q. Hi

I am trying to preserve the color on HEAT patinated copper. I have tried water based Incralac [on eBay or Amazon] , paste wax, spray lacquer, Krylon 1301 [affil links] . The best results have been the Krylon. However it still changes the color. Do you think that a solvent based Incralac [on eBay or Amazon] will work better at preserving the color? Thanks for you input.

Bruce MacKimmie
- Moss Beach, California
2005


Brass Lacquer

on eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

A. Hi. I make penny whistles from copper and heat color them. I have had very good luck finishing them with Brass Lacquer. It is formulated for brass and copper and works well. It is somewhat costly, but it works. Look for it on eBay , sometimes you can find a good deal.

Rick Hinck
- Holyoke Colorado



I have tried many things to ensure that my copper fountains remain nice and shiny waxes and acrylic finishes. But unfortunately of all of them the worst thing I have found is putting a lacquered finish on them. Whether it's the combination of outside elements or the water or both I don't know but it begins to discolour after a couple of months and the finish begins to really look drab.

I am experimenting with a company in the UK that works with clear powder coating, and I am trying to get something that is ok to use outdoors with water over a long period. It might be a while till I get a decent result but if it works I'll post the info later in the year.

Craig Humphreys
- London, UK
2005


A. I have had great success keeping the blues, purples, and reds in my flame treated copper. I worked with my local powder coater and found that a clear finish baked at half the time usually required, does the trick. It allows the powder to melt to a clear glaze and give the copper a depth that spray on treatments don't allow, but by leaving it in half time, the copper doesn't heat up too much to change color.

Emily Lewis
- Burlington, North Carolina



Environmental Technology Spray Sealer
on
Amazon

(affil links)

A. I understand the problems of losing colors after heat coloring. I do steel coloring. The best way is to use cold rolled steel. After you obtain the effect you want, leave it set over night or longer and let it cool down. Then I use a spray called EnviroTex high gloss .

Hold the can at least 18" from the piece working on and spray a light coat. Let this dry and then do the same thing again. Do this several times but DON'T GET TOO CLOSE. You might lose just a little lighter blues but the deep blues and purples will stay. Also the clear powder coat will work at half the baking time. When the powder starts to glaze over I shut the heat off and pull the piece out of the oven There is a new low heat clear powder coat coming out. Don't have the info on it yet.

Mike LeMaster
welding - Delta Colorado
2007


Microcrystalline "Museum Wax"
on
Amazon

(affil links)

A. Hey, I do a lot of heat coloring on all kinds of metals, the best thing I have found is wax [affil links] it's a micro-crystalline wax polish. It's a little expensive but the best thing I found that leaves a natural finish (not shiny glossy). It does "tone" down the colors a little bit(depending on how/when you apply) but if done right NO color is lost.

Frank Bachmann
- Glen Burnie, Maryland
January 24, 2008



As we all know, if you put a drop of oil on a puddle of water you'll see a colorful rainbow sheen. The rainbow colors are not the color of oil, they are an interference/diffraction pattern, a prism effect that results when light encounters a very thin film of transparent material.

Some of your heat coloring colors are real pigments and patinas. But some of the colors, especially the more subtle, are not: they are diffraction patterns caused by very thin films of oil or clear oxides on the surface. The clear coating removes these colors not by chemical reaction or yellowing (alone) or filtering, but simply by being there. If you study the subject of carnival glass (which also gets it colors from diffraction patterns, not pigments) you may find something useful about film thickness, etc., that can help you preserve heat coloration. Just a thought, for what it's worth, from someone who doesn't practice the art but believes you that, based on this, the wax is the best bet :-)

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
January 25, 2008




Flame coloring to bring out the colors

Q. Please tell me where I can find help. I want to heat 110 copper sheet .032 gauge .. I want to bring out areas of orange, yellow, red, etc. What common tool can I use and how hot should it be? Is there a website, article or book that you can suggest? THANKS BUNCHES

Dottie Cesario
hobbyist Tampa, Florida
2004



Q. I am interested in what you have discovered re: coloring of copper with varying temperatures. For a different reason, though. My apron front copper sink was damaged, and it had a "Fire and Ice" finish on it that was beautiful. It had to be polished off during the repair, and I would like to replicate all the colors that were represented. (I realize I can't replicate it exactly.) Thanks for any info!

Peggy Thomas
- Amarillo, Texas
2005



Q. I create metal sculpture for patio and poolside with 18 gauge sheet metal. I'd like to add random color (blue and whatever other hue possible) to the sculpture using my oxy-acetylene torch. How is this achieved and what settings do I use on my regulators? Have looked for books on the subject, but can't find any.

Polly Fisk
metal artist - Dallas, Texas
2006



Q. Getting red from copper with a torch. I am new to coppersmithing and have been trying to get the color in my leaves and butterflies when I cut them out with the torch. Does anyone know how to do this? Is it in the regulator settings or what? I have tried everything.

Jeremy Whitmire
coppersmith - Copper Country, Michigan
2006


A. I've managed to produce a wide range of hues on copper with an ordinary propane torch. The trick seems to be in heating the copper to a high temperature and then using the torch as you would a paint brush. Heat one portion of the piece until color starts to appear and then experiment. A long time under the torch close to the heart of the flame produces pale greens, silver, and gold. A quick stroke with the edge of the flame produces blues. A longer time at the edge of the flame produces reds and pinks.

Joe Nicholas
- Kansas City, Missouri


A. When I do small projects on copper, I usually get a nice fire-scale effect by "painting" the parts I want to color up with flux (flux for hard solder), letting it dry, then turning the piece over and heating it from the back.
I usually heat it pretty hot to get a nice red color, but keep the flame away or it'll burn the flux and turn a funky color. Use the flux lightly...

Jessica Schafer
- Santa Cruz, California
2007


A. If you want to turn copper red, heat it as hot as you can get it without melting it then dunk or spray it with water. When I make a rose from copper this will make a very bright red rose.

Lyle Wynn
blacksmith - Flowood, Mississippi
2007




Using bromide salts or potash for colors

Q. We are trying to create a tropical sunset scene in sheet copper and would like to embellish the work primarily in blue and red hues. A metal worker mentioned applying bromide salts to the metal prior to heating with a propane torch. Has anyone had any success with this method? Any other recommendations?

Thank you!

Bob Yeamans
- Columbus, Ohio
2004



Q. I would like to know what process I need to employ in order to discolor either copper or brass. I believe what I want to do is etch the metal, but I don't know what chemicals to use or possibly how to heat it to accomplish this. I'm working on a a logo which will be large and want to use discolored and/or distressed metal. Any help you can offer will be appreciated.

Thanks

Paul

Paul Le Pain
artist - Dunedin, Florida
2004



Q. I would like to know the best way to bring out color in brass using a blow torch. Should I use something in addition to heat. Also, what is the best way to keep the colors? Should I polyurethane it? I want to make art objects with copper and get the beautiful purples and golds from the heat.

Lynn Schmoock
hobbyist - Hillsborough, New Jersey
2005



Q. How do I use potash to color my copper project? I'd like to find out what the application is and how and what do I mix the potash with?

Ross D Laird
Primal Iron Originals - San Diego, California
2006




What is the chemistry of heat coloring?

Q. I was trying to form an oxide film on copper by thermal oxidation at 350 °C, in ambient atmosphere. After 10 minutes, there was a gray film on copper, which I assumed was CuO. After about an hour at 350 °C, the surface became multicolored with patches of pink, violet and gray/black! What are the possible compounds that cause these colors?

Nandini Venkataraman
Student Researcher - Tucson, Arizona
2006




Q. I am fairly new to copper work. I do not use sheet copper, but rather cold forge heavy copper wire. I have been experimenting with different patinas and coloring techniques and am very fascinated with heat coloring. I experimented some using the broiler of my oven and achieved a gorgeous hot pink/purple color. However, as soon as the copper cooled, it faded quickly to orange...a very nice bright orange, but NOT the color I wanted. Is there a way to keep that lovely pink color? I had not seen it before in any finished copper work, so I am very curious if it is just a color that shows up when the copper is hot, or if it is possible to keep that particular shade. Any help would be great appreciated!

Genevieve Lancaster
hobbyist, designer - Atlanta, Georgia
April 30, 2008


----
Ed. note: 6 questions in a row :-(
Folks, this mutual-help forum will continue to work only if you take the time to help others, not just post your own questions :-)

A. I've been working with copper for about 13 years and have gotten some beautiful iridescent-like patinas with liver of sulfur [on eBay or Amazon affil links] . It's a benign substance, available in crystal form from any chemical supply house or in liquid form from any garden center -it's the orange liquid part of Dormant Oil Spray that's used to spray fruit trees in late spring and cheaper than the crystals. Liver of sulfur is a substance that smells like rotten eggs (remember stink bombs?), so take care where you use it.

It should be mixed with water and makes a very light brown to black patina, depending on the ratio of water to liver of sulfur. Less water = darker color. I get the nicest iridescent coloration when I apply with a brush. Experiment with different ratios on scrap until you get an effect you like. The effect is instant and if you don't like it, clean the copper and try again. The patina isn't stable so it has to be lacquered after the desired effect is achieved. Additionally, the water mixture loses viability fairly quickly, so only mix what you'll use in a few minutes -30 minutes, tops.

I hope someone finds this useful.

Cheers!

Kathleen Donaldson
- Kingston, Ontario, Canada
June 10, 2008


Gasoline-powered Air Compressors

on eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

A. I am currently a student concentrating in metalwork. I have experimented extensively with heat patinas, and I have learned a number of things that I haven't seen addressed on this thread. I use a propane torch with the broadest tip I can find, the heat should be very general and not focused too much. On larger pieces I even use a rosebud tip. To produce an even color you need to heat the copper evenly and in very small increments. The final color will only come out after the copper has cooled, so pull the torch away and just watch the piece. Colors will develop as the copper cools. If the piece was not heated evenly it will have inconsistent color. The trick that I have learned, and have had extraordinary success with, is air cooling (NOT QUENCHING! submerging in water will cause the color to flake) as quickly as possible. I do this by running outside in the winter and swinging the piece through cold air. You can also stick it in a freezer when you see a color you like develop. Don't sit the piece down on the racks in a freezer, though, it will cause the color to be uneven in the places where the metal touched the rack. Using an air compressor [adv: air compressors on eBay or Amazon] and blowing on the piece is quite effective as well, the compressed air is quite cold. It has taken me many experiments, and many failures, but I am able to pinpoint any color in the color spectrum by heating slowly and evenly, removing heat and observing, and air cooling as quickly as possible. Even though I consider myself quite skilled at applying heat patinas, I still pickle most pieces and start over multiple times to pinpoint the exact color I am looking for, every piece will be slightly different depending on it's size, inconsistencies in thickness, and, sometimes, shape. As far as sealing a color, I have found nothing to be effective, personally I like the idea of an ever-changing piece, if you really want to, you can always clean it up and reapply the patina after it is lost.

Cody Pinnow
- Menomonie, Wisconsin
May 4, 2009


A. I make wind chimes with flame colored copper tubes. I seem to get better colors by heating the tubes with the torch until the colors just begin to come out then I let it "rest" and cool for just a couple of minutes then hit it again with the torch and really make the colors come out. I also found a product that really seems to work and not dull the colors. It is called X-I-M 900 clear coat ⇩. It is designed to protect polished nonferrous metals. I holds up extremely well even outdoors and doesn't seem to dull the colors. I found it at my local professional automotive paint supply company. It's made by XIM Products; they sell it online. USE 3 OR 4 LIGHT COATS. It looks a little frosty at first but quickly dries clear. Good Luck.

Dale Firm
- Canton, Ohio
December 21, 2009

Ed. update Dec.2023: We strongly doubt that X-I-M 900 clear coat exists anymore. We do not see it listed on Rustoleum's website, nor available for sale anywhere.

adv.
Protectaclear from Everbrite [a finishing.com supporting advertiser]


sidebar

Q. Why does the color of pure copper which is used in Cyclotern change to rainbow color by heating with burner?

Can I make an exact duplicate?

deba prasad dash
employee - Kolkata, westbangal, India
January 12, 2010


A. Hi, Deba. I would assume that the rainbow coloration is oxides of copper as described on this page. I think making a duplicate is more about artistic skill and experience than scientific understanding of the technology. In other words, I doubt that I could make a duplicate, but I believe that a skilled metal artist could :-)

Good luck with it.

Regards,

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




A. Hi All.

I work extensively with Niobium and Titanium patination, so I have some info that might help.

The rainbow colors is light diffraction caused by clear oxides. The color is dependent on the thickness of the oxide.

Scientifically, the ratio of oxide thickness to light wavelength determines the final color you see.

The answer is therefore to wipe the flame across and experiment. There is no way to tell exactly how much.

An atmosphere high in oxygen would help. An oxyacetylene torch would be best, with the oxygen turned up high.

Ryan Diederich
- Wilbraham, Massachusetts, USA
October 23, 2010


A. It is possible to color copper with heat and preserve the colors. I've been doing it since the early 90s. The colors I can achieve are copper, brown, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, rose, and black. It does however take many, many hours of trial and error.

Verrel Martin
- Fulton Missouri


A. I haven't done much with copper, and I've only used a torch on silver in a class, I didn't seem anyone mention using a heat gun [on eBay or Amazon], it's like a super hot hair dryer apparently used for peeling paint, anyway one day I was in my basement and there was the heat gun and a piece of copper, so I turned it on and used it on the copper, it worked very nicely, the copper going through all the color stages as it progressively got hotter, it also seemed very controlled to me. Just thought I'd put that out there!

Logan Swift
- Monmouth, New Jersey, USA
April 4, 2011


A. I recommend using an oil based lacquer. A few coats is all you really need. If you want more protection, you can spray one coat of lacquer followed by a self-level epoxy that you can pour on the surface. The combination of the two makes the copper really "pop". The plus side of the epoxy is that you can sand it down and pour a new coat on top after a few years of wear and it will look brand new again. Hope that helps.

Don Angelo
Spring Hill, Tennessee
May 19, 2011


A. Another reason why your heat patina might not last or look the same as it did is in the nature of the patina itself. If the piece is going to be outdoors the metal will eventually be heated and change color. I learned this from experience. I had this happen with one of my pieces that got left in the car in the summer for a bit. It looked washed out afterward. Besides being in the car nothing touched it, not even direct sunlight.
I've had another piece that I have sitting inside that I did, I haven't put a clear coat on it of any sort and it's fine. The heat patina will last a long time, but it's in no means a completely permanent coloring eventually it will fade and tarnish clear coat or no.

Ashley Blissit
- Lubbock, Texas, USA
December 10, 2011



(you are on the 1st page of the thread)       Next page >


none
adv.
this text gets replaced with bannerText
spacer gets replaced with bannerImages



(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:

 
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g, Train'g
& Software


About/Contact  -  Privacy Policy  -  ©1995-2024 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA  -  about "affil links"