topic 50455
Restoring the dark brown finish to copper sinks
A discussion started in 2008 but continuing through 2020
November 4, 2008Q. I ruined two bathroom sinks spraying them with Lime-A-Way [affil. link to product info on Amazon]. We have high lime deposits in our water and I have soaked our shower head several times which makes the spray much better. I didn't even think when I sprayed the drain of my pretty dark copper sinks and immediately they were spotted and streaked with bright copper finish now. The shower head must be coated bronze because the solution didn't affect it. We don't have a gas torch and I'm very nervous about trying to restore the finish myself. What do you suggest? Lou in Texas
Lou FreemanHomeowner - Colleyville, Texas
A. Hi, Lou. Patina finishes can usually benefit from an artistic touch, which I lack, so I don't know about your ability to satisfy yourself on this, but Brass Darkening Solution [affil. link to product info at Rockler] is available for patina restoration situations like this.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Striving to live Aloha
adv.
Our company makes a copper patina repair kit just for owners of copper sinks like yourself. Our kit is a very simple and quick repair of patina damage for DIY. Please call for more info. You can see a demonstration of our kit at work on You Tube, keyword copper patina repair. Thanks
Barry Feinman
BarrysRestoreItAll
Carlsbad, California
February 19, 2012 -- this entry appended to this thread by editor in lieu of spawning a duplicative thread
Q. I have a lightened spot in my bronze sink and would like to know how to darken it back to match rest of sink interior
ALBERT RAIA- BATON ROUGE, Louisiana
February 13, 2013
Q. I bought a house with a copper sink in which the patina is completely gone from years of heavy cleansers. It has a hammered finish and the raised portions look ok and the indented hammered spots are a dark brown. The overall appearance is terrible. Am I able to grind away the dark spots and then keep it waxed for a more uniform look?
Dan Copsey- Thousand Oaks, California, USA
Help I ruined my antique metal bathroom sink
September 7, 2013 -- this entry appended to this thread by editor in lieu of spawning a duplicative threadQ.
I used a metal cleaner on my antique bronze metal sink and it took out the color to a brassy streak. This is not an expensive vanity sink and so I don't know the type metal it is. Please help me restore it to a uniform color. Thanks
- Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
May 8, 2019
Q. I used Tarnx to clean a beautiful hammered copper sink that is now bright pink/orange in color. I am not an experienced DIY, but willing to try anything. I need to resolve this fast. HELP!
Marie Anderson- Dallas, Texas, USA
May 2019
affil. link
Rockler
Brass Darkening Solution
A. Hi Marie. If the sink was initially a shiny copper color like a new penny, a copper or brass polish like Brasso [affil. link to product info on Amazon] should fix it, although it may take a few applications. If the sink had a dark brown antique finish you may not be able to get it dark brown again in a reasonable timeframe without re-applying some sort of patina chemicals, such as mentioned by Barry.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Aloha -- an idea worth spreading
September 29, 2020 -- this entry appended to this thread by editor in lieu of spawning a duplicative thread
Q. Hello, my name is Angela Brown. My house keeper decided it would be a great surprise for me, to bring back the original copper color of my sink. She didn't know it was dark on purpose. The whole entire sink is now bright copper with no coating.
Is there someone I can hire to make it dark again? Or is replacement my only option?
Angela Brown- Wilmington North Carolina
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Ed. note: Readers may be interested in these related thread:
Topic 40020, "Restore patina on antique brass sink basin"
Topic 40020, "Coloring/antiquing a hammered/beaten copper sink"