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Accelerated Patinizing / Bluing of Copper

I've purchased some basic copper piping used for residential plumbing, and wanted to use it as decorative curtain rods. I wanted the bluish finish that antique copper has (like the Statue of Liberty or roof tops), but found out it naturally takes 8-10 years. I've read that expensive metals such as gold, silver, mercury, and platinum will speed up the process by absorbing electrons from the copper, but wanted to know a more inexpensive approach, such as a chemical or something.

Geoffrey Kern
hobbyist - Lagunitas, CA, United States
2007

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Hello, Geoffrey. We have an FAQ about patinas on line here. Commercial products to put a green patina [affil link] or a blue patina [affil link] on copper are available. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
2007

You can use next solution:250 gm ammonium chloride /250 gm ammonium carbonate/1 lit water(colour can be modified-less chloride more bluish tone /less carbonate more yellowish green).For best results you must use liver of sulfur ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] solution as pretreatment (or any other black or brown patina). Can be used only on grease free surface.Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2007

Sorry! Finishing.com is temporarily Read-Only.
Ted Mooney is retiring but I have several offers to take it over.
We're working hard to make sure we find it the best new home.

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