Summary for white patina on brass Discussion
White patina on brass is described as difficult to achieve, and the thread suggests there is no simple, standard chemical patina that gives a true white finish. Alex Wolf asked whether anyone had experience with white patina on brass or copper, noting he could not find Ron Young’s books. Ed Budman explained that a white patina would require a white copper salt, but the usual copper carbonate is pale green and other common copper salts are also in the green family; he suggested using a paint system on the brass and then distressing or relieving it if that is the desired finish. Years later, Luc Harzé added that bismuth should be forgotten, but zinc nitrate at about 50–100 g/L can be used as a torch patina, and titanium oxide solutions can be alternated to strengthen the white effect. He also mentioned experimenting with ferric nitrate and polyvinyl acetate, while noting the result is not a true patina.
Q. Dear sirs, Did anybody try to make white patina on brass? I heard there are some advice in books of Ron Young, but, unfortunately, I cannot find these books. Maybe, somebody has some experience in this area –I mean your experience in white patina on brass, not books of Young :-)
Thanks beforehand, Sincerely,
ALEX WOLF
– MOSCOW, RUSSIA
2000
Ed. note: Ron Young’s “Contemporary Patination” might not currently be available new, but copies are available used: Contemporary Patination
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Q. AS I UNDERSTOOD, NOBODY IS EXPERIENCED IN WHITE PATINA HERE. MAYBE, ANYBODY MEET YELLOW PATINA ON BRASS/COPPER? SINCERELY, ALEX
ALEXANDER VOLKOV [returning]
– MOSCOW, RUSSIA
2000
A. Alex – In order to apply a white patina to brass, you would have to find a salt of copper that is white. The typical patina is copper carbonate
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which is a pale greenish salt, and used because it is not too soluble. Copper sulphate, copper chloride, copper nitrate, are all in the green color family and not what you are looking for. My suggestion therefore, may be to find a paint system to coat the brass and then relieve it if that is your final finish.
Ed Budman [dec]
– Pennsylvania
With deep sadness we advise that our good friend Ed passed away Nov. 24, 2018
2000
A. Hello, I don’t know if it is an old subject but about the white patina: difficult to obtain. Forget the bismuth but you can use zinc nitrate around 50 to 100 gram/liter; it is a torch patina. To reinforce the white you can play with a water solution of titanium oxide and alternate the two solutions.
What I have tried also is first layer of brown (ferric nitrate) and titanium oxide with acetate poly vinyl. Not a real patina but the result is sometimes more important.
good luck
Luc Harzé
– Brussels, Belgium
September 25, 2009