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plating, anodizing, & finishing Q&As since 1989




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Builder wants green-blue patina on steel staircase

2004

How do we patina steel to obtain the greens and blues of bronze patina? We are building a 'floating' circular staircase with steel sheets on the bottom and partway up the sides and we love the soft hues of bronze patina.

Gustavo M [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
construction - Woodsie, California, USA

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2004

If you haven't already..try contacting Ron Young at SculptNoveau in Escondido, CA. He's developed a bunch of great finishes for steel, bronze, etc and should have something that fits your needs.

Don R [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Milwaukee , Wisconsin

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2007 -- appended to this thread by editor in lieu of spawning duplicative thread

I have a solid bronze threshold (Pemko) with a brass finish. I was wanting to know if there is a chemical process to speed up the patina to make it look darker?

Scott McCracken
Contractor - Dallas, Texas, United States

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March , 2008

Hi, Scott. If it has Brass Lacquer [affil link] on it, you must first remove the lacquer with lacquer thinner [affil link] . Then you can blacken it up quickly with Liver of Sulphur [affil link] or Brass Darkening Solution [affil link]. But it's strong stuff, both in terms of being a little noxious, and in how fast and how black it will make it. Good luck.

Regards,

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