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



-----

Making aluminum look like copper, gold, or brass



none
finishing.com is made possible by ...
this text gets replaced with bannerText
spacer gets replaced with bannerImages

⇦ (tip: readers rarely show interest in abstract questions, but people's actual situations usually prompt responses)   smiley face

Q. Goran: How do I get aluminum to look like copper patina?

Susan Vayda
- Falmouth, Maine
January 7, 2023


A. Hi Susan. Although a passable job can be done with paint if you're speaking of a roof or gutter, and you can buy that painted aluminum sheet metal, for closer-up stuff you'll probably want a real copper patina. That is done by "painting on" a coating of copper and its reaction products.

Further down the page you'll see responses to Jasper L where commercial products are linked. But read their instructions on-line before buying or starting the project because sometimes it's a two or three step process with a ground coat, then a main coat, then a reactive coat that patinates the main coat, etc.

Please tell us what it is (and how many) you want to patinate because this site serves hobbyists who want to make one, and manufacturers who want to make millions, and answers will be different for different needs. Luck & Regards,

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


thumbs up sign Thank you for your very helpful reply. I am hoping to have a metal surround for my existing brick fireplace. As copper is expensive I am trying to find an aluminum fabricator who will build the surround and then attempt to apply a finish to make it look like copper that is oxidized.

19382-1a 19382-1b

Susan Vayda [returning]
- Falmouth, Maine [returning]


A. Hi again. For that application I see you're looking for a copper or "oil rubbed bronze" look, not a green-blue verdigris.
Luck & Regards,

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


thumbs up sign Yes, thank you for properly identifying my intent. I will look into the modern masters.

Susan Vayda [returning]
- Falmouth Maine


A. Aluminium can be copper plated by simple immersion : copper tartarate 50 gms /water 1 lit, pH of solution must be 3,5 (correct it with tartaric acid [on eBay or Amazon]!). 100 °C temperature of solution. Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
January 8, 2023


A. We always appreciate Goran's helpful and knowledgable answers, but do warn you to try it on a piece of scrap before entrusting your whole soon-to-be-built surround to it. Just because it's theoretically possible doesn't mean the look will please you :-)

Luck & Regards,

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


Q. Now it appears we may have the fireplace surround made from steel, not aluminum. Recommendations for copper finish would be greatly appreciated. Thank you again!
Susan

Susan Vayda [returning]
- Falmouth, Maine
January 9, 2023


A. Hi again. Ig you use the Modern Masters, or other copper-bearing patina solution it should make little difference whether its applied to aluminum vs. steel.

Luck & Regards,

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


A. Steel can be immersion coppered too (20 gms copper sulphate, 50 gms ammonia [on eBay or Amazon] 25 %, 1 lit water, add tartaric acid [on eBay or Amazon] until pH is 3,5). Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
January 10, 2023




⇩ Closely related postings, oldest first ⇩



Q. Hello,

I have an aluminum sheet which I engraved and I want to oxidize the engraved surface in Black or Dark Grey colour. I was wondering if anyone could recommend any additives I can use to get such an effect. I would prefer to use some do it yourself method. If you know any good books on the subject I would appreciate it if you could give me the titles.

Thanks in Advance

Achilleas Pitsillides
- Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
2000


A. Rub it with olive or linseed oil [affil links] (very sparingly),then heat it to max. 400 °C! Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia




Patination ART on Aluminium

"Artists Anodizing Aluminum:
The Sulfuric Acid Process"

by David LaPlantz

on AbeBooks

or eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

Q. I'm looking for (books) procedures to patina (patination) aluminium. Basically for outdoor resistance 100% of the time (UV and waterproof) for sculptures. The patina on the aluminium must keep its finish but it could be reasonable to apply a coat of wax or clear Teflon or whatever 1 time per year. I find a book for patinas on bronze, copper or stainless but nothing about aluminium.

Andre C [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Riverdale, North Dakota USA
2001


A. Hi Andre. Aluminum can be anodized, dyed, and sealed. It should exhibit extraordinary outdoor resistance as entire skyscrapers are built with anodized aluminum.

But whether this offers you the option for the art you envision is a question I can't answer.

Good luck.

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


A. You can colour aluminum directly, without anodizing!

Black for aluminum:
10 gm potassium permanganate [on eBay or Amazon]
25 gm copper nitrate [affil links]
4 cc nitric acid
1 lit water

Hot immersion / 80-100 °C)
5 min. = brown
15 min. = dark brown
30 min. = black

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia


Q. In the previous post there is a recipe that calls for nitric acid, does anyone know what strength of acid this is?

Pete Williams
- Birmingham, UK
June 26, 2019


A. Hi Pete. Goran is not asking you to use it full strength, but at a 251:1 dilution, 4 cc/lit. But since he is using liquid volume (cc) rather than weight (gm), he is referring to an available concentration, and standard nitric acid concentration is 69%-71%.

Luck & Regards,

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




Aluminum (copper patina finish)

Is there a way to paint a copper patina color over aluminum that results in that weathered copper look?

David Hicks
Signal Signs of GA - Mableton, Georgia, USA
2003


A. Hi, David.

I have seen a roofing and gutter materials with such paints applied by roller coating but I don't know who makes them and whether that striated look can be applied in a single coat or if it needs multiple coats.

Good luck.

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




Want aluminum to look like copper with blue patina

Q. I HAVE AN ALUMINUM letter "x" 4"W X 4"H X 1/8" THICK I NEED TO MAKE OR PAINT THIS letter THAT LOOKS COPPER W/ PATINA OR BLUEISH OXIDATION, RUSTIC LOOK.

Juan Potes
- Miami, Florida
2003


Q. I have a similar inquiry. I have looked at electroplating but that seems too expensive. I have a large order of louvers where the blades need to appear as oxidised copper.

Chris Paffett
- Milton, Pennsylvania USA
2007


A. Most expensive is solid real copper. Less expensive, but looking exactly like real copper (because that's exactly what the surface is) would be copper plating. Depending on how close it needs to look, anodized aluminum with an "oxidized copper" colored dye or paint/powder will do it. You can post an RFQ what what you are seeking at www.finishing.com/letters/.

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




I have brushed aluminum tube to patina in earth tone

Q. Hello

I am building some wind chimes out of aluminum tubing. So far I have been turning them on a lath while holding sandpaper on them to give them a brushed stainless steel look.Then I spray them with a coat of silicone oil to preserve the look.

I would like to add color with out painting or anodizing. Ideally some chemical I could put on them and heat to produce some earth tone color or colors. A bronze, copper, yellow, red, green, olive, black, brown or combination of colors would work.

I would like the chime finish to be durable and to look good in the garden.

What suggestion do you have.

Thanks,

Ron Barnett
- Santa Rosa, California, USA
2006


A. Try old burnt oil process-simply oil it very sparingly with some edible oil or fat(olive oil is best),then heat it slowly to max 400 °C. Repeat if needs. Hot air gun is best tool for that task, or kiln if you have it. Good luck and hope it helps!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia




Q. We want to have copper or brass finish on aluminium metal. The aluminium is in roll form so electroplating is difficult for us. If possible please give an option of dipping process.
Thanks,

Mitesh Vohra
zippers - New Delhi, India
2006


"Zipper: An Exploration in Novelty"
by Robert D. Friedel

on AbeBooks

or eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

A. Hi Mitesh.

You can coil anodize & dye it to achieve the effect. But I don't think you'll find any method of getting a consistent color without completely unreeling it and doing continuous web processing.

Please be very careful about trying to make aluminum look like copper or brass because it doesn't function like it :-(

I bought a replacement convertible top for my Geo Tracker which came with an aluminum zipper disguised to look like a brass one. The white salty growth, the corrosion pits, and general galling made it impossible to zip after just a weeks, and I always had WD-40 [on eBay or Amazon] running over the window and down the paint in a vain attempt to render it functional; at the same time the brass zippers on my boat were working fine ... If I was GM of the Universe it would be a shooting rime to color aluminum zippers to make people think they are copper or brass :-)

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




Q. Copper prices are sky rocketing so I was wondering if there is a glaze, transparent metal paint or some inexpensive way to add a new COPPER look to aluminum (no patina ... just fresh shiny copper)?

Thank you.

Steve Gregor
Student - Orlando, Florida
December 9, 2008


A. You can plate copper to aluminum by simple immersion process!
Solution1.-1lit water ,150 ml hydrochloric acid,32 ccm sulfuric acid,15 gm copper sulphate.
Solution 2.-1lit water,100 gm copper sulphate,1gm potassium chloride.You must immerse object to solution 1,then rinse it and immerse in solution 2. Slightly acid boiling copper tartrate solution can be used too.
Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia




Paint aluminum pick-up topper

Q. It's old and dented. I actually don't want it to look perfect, but I want to paint it something other than the silver color it is now. If it looks a little rough, that's actually good. I'm proficient wood finisher, giving my stuff an antique look, and want to do the same with my topper. Any help is appreciated.

Brooks Boliek
cabinet maker, decorative painter, historical restorer - Silver Spring, Maryland
May 19, 2008


A. Simple and effective solution-oil it very very slightly with any edible oil(according to old books olive oil is best),then heat it to 300-400 °C (use hot air gun). Instead of oil you can use 2-20% shellac solution too. Yellowish-brown or black finish. Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia


A. Brooks,

Here is an old school way of coloring aluminum man. Try this, just make sure your wearing neoprene rubber gloves [on eBay or Amazon].

solution a: sodium hydroxide and zinc oxide [affil links]

reaction to aluminum: turns the aluminum gray.

solution b: copper sulphate

reaction: turn the gray stuff to black and a little bit of red shade. Depends on how you apply the stuff.

hint: make the copper sulphate [on eBay or Amazon]is very diluted.

Old school but works!

Barry M. Umacob
- Philippines


Q. Hi Barry,

The old recipe does work well. I have a project in which an aluminum piece will be outside. Will this patina hold up to the elements?

Jim Johnson
- folly beach, South Carolina
March 10, 2009




Q. Could anybody tell me if there is a coating one can apply to stop brushed aluminium anodising outside and keep up it's sheen.

Thanks

Claire Richmond
- Tasmania, Australia
June 2, 2009



A. Hi Claire. Aluminum can be clearcoated; lots of people polish their aluminum car wheels then clearcoat them. Also, the right alloys of aluminum can be anodized without losing substantial shine -- most dentists' lights and outdoor lighting reflectors, and many telescope mirrors are anodized aluminum.

Regards,

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


A. Wattyl has a product called Aluclear.

Aaron Anderson
realaustralianworks.com - Melbourne Australia
June 4, 2015




Give our Aluminum Table a Copper Patina

Q. I recently saw a TV "how to" show about finishing copper with ferric chloride [on eBay or Amazon] (etchant) mixed with water and another mixture of copper nitrate [affil links] (oxidizer) plus zinc chloride and water. The metal was heated to 300 degrees and the oxidation process checked by spraying water. Question: is there a similar process that might work to give aluminum a copper patina finish. I'm trying to give an expensive aluminum table a better appearance.
Thanks!

Jasper Lewis
Hobbyist - Magnolia, Arkansas, USA
May 18, 2011


A. Hi, Jasper.

In a way, it is the copper itself that is responsible for the color, not the chemicals it was treated with. Aluminum doesn't form those colors; it can't.

But you can probably "paint" on a cupric solution. Commercial copper metallic surfacer [affil links] solutions are available. You can leave these as is, or go on to use a green patina [affil links] or blue patina [affil links] solution on the new "copper" surface. I would expect, though, that metal surfacing an aluminum table and patinating it to an attractive artistic look is a job for someone with some arts and crafts aptitude rather than just home handyman experience -- which leaves me out :-)

Regards,

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




Q. I purchased an antique head board for $10 at my local Faith Farms. I am a photographer, and looking to gain green patina overnight. I am sure, due to its' weight, it is aluminum, has anyone used copper paint, followed by the salt and vinegar [in bulk on eBay or Amazon] solution? Can this be done?

Alyse crandell
photography- ft. lauderdale, Florida
April 19, 2018


A. Hi Pete. When acids are specified by volume instead of weight, the writer usually means at the strength one would typically find that ingredient in a chem lab for general purposes rather than any particular molar concentration for titration ... this is often the highest practical concentration, so I would guess 68% concentration.

Birchwood-Casey Aluminum Black
on
Amazon

(affil links)

Please introduce yourself and your situation so you can get better targeted responses: For example, Goran is one of our most helpful readers but he is a metals conservator and some of his responses in this one-room schoolhouse of an internet public forum are not targeted at nor appropriate for consumers. Thanks. Aluminum Black may be more appropriate for consumers, and Insta-blak from EPI / Electrochemical Products Inc. [a finishing.com supporting advertiser] more appropriate for industrial users. Good luck

Regards,

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




⇦ (tip: readers rarely show interest in abstract questions, but people's actual situations usually prompt responses)   smiley face

Q. I'm looking to get a nice gold/brass look to aluminum and then clear coat it. Is there anything out there I can use to stain or color it?

JP Guido
Hobbyists - Cleveland
November 8, 2021


A. Hi JP. The conventional and "right" way that aluminum is colored is by anodizing it, which creates a microscopic honeycomb style surface on it, then dyeing it so the dye is absorbed into the pores in the honeycomb, then 'sealing' it (exposing it to very hot water and/or chemicals that cause the top of those pores to swell over and close.

Some people do this as a hobby but, if that is too involved for your purposes, then your choices would be to paint it with a gold/brass look paint, or to use gold/brass colored magic markers. But even starting with a uniform & very clean aluminum surface, I'm not sure whether you would consider the indelible marker coloration a "nice gold/brass look".

Luck & Regards,

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




(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"