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Protecting copper work for a gallery exhibition

Q. Any suggestions as to how to protect burnished copper to protect it and to make the metal zing when viewed in a gallery.

61871-1

I have created a large copper pipe sculpture for an exhibition in Oxfordshire that starts in September. I have patinated the copper to take away the fresh look from the pipe maker but now I want to protect the finish.

Any suggestions?

Tony Wyer
Artist - Oxford UK
August 20, 2025

Incralac
(brass lacquer with benzotriazole)

on eBay or Amazon

(affil link)

A. Hi Tony.

Benzotriazole and similar compounds are excellent preservatives for copper. But greater durability will come from following it with a brass lacquer ... or simply using a brass lacquer which contains benzotriazole, like Incralac ⇨

Luck & Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted can be retained for immediate
answers or long term project help

Microcrystalline
Museum Waxes
museum_wax

on eBay or Amazon

(affil link)

A. Try Incralac, you can use it alone or in combination with Renaissance Wax ⇨
(base coat Incralac + top coat wax). Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
August 25, 2025

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